Former vice president at The Walt Disney Company, Duncan Wardle, has launched a creative consulting company called iD8 & innov8, aimed at instilling innovative cultures in businesses. Wardle believes that children are the most creative individuals due to their natural curiosity, imagination, and honesty. However, this curiosity tends to diminish as people grow older, largely due to the traditional education system that discourages asking questions and promotes conformity.
In today’s business landscape, fostering curiosity is crucial for creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success. By reigniting the childlike curiosity and creativity within employees, profound insights and groundbreaking solutions can be unlocked. One key strategy suggested by Wardle is to embrace the power of asking “why.” By digging deeper and asking open-ended questions, businesses can transform their approach from product-centric to consumer-centric, leading to better customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Engaging directly with consumers is another essential strategy for understanding their needs and preferences. By immersing themselves in the world of consumers and observing their behaviors firsthand, businesses can uncover insights that data alone cannot provide. Challenging assumptions and thinking outside the box is also crucial for ensuring that business strategies are truly creative and aligned with consumer needs. Wardle recommends challenging initial assumptions and thinking viscerally to drive innovation.
Wardle also suggests a practical exercise called “scope” to help teams challenge assumptions and think creatively. By having team members write down ideas that they believe are out of scope and discussing them, businesses can uncover deeper insights and explore possibilities that may have been overlooked. By embracing curiosity, engaging directly with consumers, and challenging assumptions, business leaders can foster a culture of continuous creativity that drives growth and creates meaningful experiences for customers.
By following these strategies and implementing a culture of curiosity and creativity within their organizations, business leaders can unlock new insights, drive innovation, and ultimately achieve better business outcomes. Embracing curiosity, engaging directly with consumers, and challenging assumptions are key steps towards fostering a culture of continuous creativity and innovation in the business world.