Innovation helps you stay ahead of the curve
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘Innovation’?
For some, it might mean creating something totally new. For others, it might be synonymous with creative destruction.
Generally speaking, Innovation is defined as the practical implementation of novel and useful ideas. Most of the innovations we are most familiar with appear in the form of goods or services, but Innovation can be found just about anywhere.
When I first was introduced to Attuned’s Motivators, and saw in my Intrinsic Motivator Report that my Innovation score was 78%, a lot of things suddenly made sense. It was instantly easier to put into words how I had been feeling about what motivates me and what doesn’t.
I’m part of the generation that is considered to be both Gen Z and Millennial (born in 1997, if you’re curious) and I grew up in a fast-paced and innovative environment. As such, it’s always felt natural to me to keep up with the latest innovations, and it’s something I do almost unconsciously. This is especially true when it comes to social media and technology—if I don’t catch up on the latest innovations, it’s likely they’ll catch up to me.
The Innovation Curve
When it comes to the Innovation Curve, I usually aim to be in at least the Early Adopters’ range (and Innovators’ if possible, but this is definitely more challenging). Why? Because this allows me to proactively experiment and understand the innovation better. Also, it gives me more time to play around with it before it hits the mainstream.
One recent example is TikTok. Even though it is still a fairly new social platform, it’s already much harder for creators to experiment with their content and be successful compared to just a year ago. Back then, it was much easier to play around with the app’s features and algorithm, and still garner views, but with mainstream adoption that window is rapidly closing. Right now, experimenting on TikTok without having a clear idea of what you are doing is unlikely to yield much traction, and could even lead to your account getting shadowbanned.
Obviously, this is something you can get around with enough research, and perhaps you feel more comfortable doing that. Or maybe you’re like me and you like to figure things out by yourself and gain an edge on most other users by doing so (because experimenting allows you to make discoveries about algorithms that no online article will tell you).
On top of this, I find being an early adopter very rewarding, whether in terms of the knowledge it allows you to build up or the potential numerical gains. Take Instagram Reels, for example. Early adopters have seen their followers and engagement boom over the past few months. But it might not be that easy for the late majority, or even the early majority, to get similar results.
Thinking One Step Ahead
Innovation also impacts the way I approach things in general. When considering what to do next on a specific project, I always try to make decisions that will put me or my team a step ahead of others. This might sound vague so let me give you an example.
I manage the TikTok and Instagram accounts for Attuned’s (formerly) sister company, Wahl+Case. You’ve probably already seen a recruitment agency on Instagram, but how many recruitment agencies have you seen on TikTok? And when it comes to Instagram, how many have you seen actively using all of Instagram’s features such as Reels and IGTV? Sure, it’s probably not something you need to have to appeal to the current generation of people changing jobs. But a few years down the line, and possibly even sooner, a strong presence on these platforms might be essential for most companies that want to reach new generations. So a company that’s an early adopter of new innovations can build a valuable—and sometimes unassailable—lead on those who are late to the party.
Working with people who aren’t Innovation-driven
Of course, not everyone is driven by Innovation—and that’s ok! I personally see this as a positive challenge.
In my case, my manager is the one in the team whose Innovation score is in the neutral range. What does that result in? Typically, we need to come with stronger arguments to explain why we believe a specific action related to Innovation is necessary. This is actually a really valuable process. Let me tell you why.
Having Innovation as a motivator is great, but it makes you want to try everything that comes out, and/or starts getting attention or trending. This is a good thing! But we’re only human, a day is only 24 hours long, and there are only so many things that you can reasonably achieve in any given timeframe. So, having to think about why you might want to do something, what would be the possible outcomes, and whether it’s really worth your time is a hugely important checkpoint.
Hearing diverse opinions from people with different dominant motivators is also another way to challenge your creativity and sense of Innovation. And who knows—your innovative spirit might just inspire other people to try something new.