The Blog - Where Business Collides with Human Nature

What makes those famous Silicon Valley companies attract and keep top talent? Given a choice, the talent went to work for Google, Facebook or Apple. What made them do that? Most people will argue that it's the competitive pay or extra benefits (such as free meals), but I have to disagree. These businesses all have the factor of innovation on side, allowing their staff to think big and to perform in fresh and new areas.

The result is ‘belonging,” the knowledge that they are part of something and their opinions matter. I am a firm believer that innovation is undeniably effective as a motivator. Maybe you are thinking you can't possibly afford to have a workplace powered by innovation, but that's where you would be wrong. I'll go through five ways you can bring innovation to your workplace, attracting and keeping the best local talent, however big or small your company is.

Is this your skill? MacGyver is now in the Oxford English Dictionary. Possibly you are hoping to recruit someone with MacGyver skills for your team.

Shorter loose definition: (verb)

Make or repair something in an improvised or inventive way, making use of whatever resources available.

Longer loose definition: (verb)

To assemble, or cause to be repaired or completed, an object, device, machine, or project from available items and resources. These items and resources usually seem common, ordinary and mundane. Where others would assume one needs a manufactured part or tool by design, a person with MacGyver skills use resources and tools in ways significantly different than their intended use.

Translation: (verb)

To handle a difficult situation through improvisation using only available materials (Which might appear to be an impossible activity). 

As we age, neuroscientists tell us, our thoughts and patterns become more ingrained.  The way our brains process, sort and ultimately respond to questions is akin to taking the same path through the garden over and over.  We get to know the path very well, and it becomes familiar to us. As long as the problems we face are familiar, so are our approaches to solving these problems. We are in our intellectual “comfort zones.” 

What happens if our efforts to solve a problem aren’t producing innovative results? The thought might occur to us, “How do I go about thinking differently?”  When we are asked to deviate from the paths ingrained in our minds, it may seem like an interesting notion, but here’s where the going gets tough.  Despite trying to think differently, we typically end up with little to show for our efforts.  Our steps continue to lead us down the same old garden path.