Engaging Virtual Meetings

12Innovation

Why are innovation skills important?

The current dynamic marketplace has caused innovation to be recognized as the mandatory mantra for businesses to become increasingly competitive and provide the best and the latest solutions to the problems of industry. Following are some of the benefits of innovation skills for employees, one of the most valued assets of an organization:

They improve efficiency. As a result of the greater inquisitiveness being displayed, innovation skills enhance the ability of employees to recognize potential for improvement not only in their own field, but in that of others as well. They are also able to utilize the limited resources available to them in an optimal manner.

They overcome monotony. Innovation skills have the power to break monotony for employees, thereby adding to their sense of accomplishment as well as a sense of fulfillment. Such efforts to make work more interesting usually become the reason behind someone's having new and out-of-the-box ideas.¹

If your meeting is stuck and needs innovation and new thinking, try these activities.

100 Uses—Use Something in Ways Not Intended

Goals: Brainstorm 100 uses for a common item.

This activity challenges your attendees to creatively use an item. This will warm up your attendees' creativity and lower their inhibitions for sharing their ideas with other attendees. 100 Uses encourages attendees to use every conceivable idea that is offered to reach the target number. It also teaches ...