The past two years have been, without a doubt, some of the hardest moments that many people have faced. In their lives and in their businesses. But what you learn when times get tough is often what makes you so much better.
“Necessity is the mother of invention” is a very popular and widely used phrase, illustrating how constraints, the limitations that impact our ability to do something, can be sources of opportunity.
Philippa White is founder and CEO of The International Exchange (TIE), a world-leading international leadership programme for commercial professionals looking for personal and professional growth through experiential purpose-driven learning
So, how can the obstacle become the way? And how can the restriction of certain conditions increase our creativity and innovation? In this article, Philippa gives 5 tips that aim to help you make the most of a tough situation and aid in reigniting your creative thinking.
Look for inspiration in the unexpected and the difficult.
There are so many constraints and challenges that we face in our daily lives.
To unlock the potential of an obstacle, we need to see it as an opportunity. We need to be excited by the challenge. And feel truly motivated. The key is to be able to see it as a stimulus for positive change, and an opportunity to explore something new. Find inspiration in the unexpected and the difficult. The power is in your hands.
Step out of your bubble and expand your mind.
We are victims of our circumstances. Our cultural backgrounds, which has to do with race, nationality, language and upbringing, defines what you are capable of inventing and your imagination. Your powers of creativity.
If you work with a group of people, all from the same background, it’s unlikely you will come up with anything new when trying to solve a problem. Engrained behaviours and practices prevent you from seeing opportunity in constraints.
The key is to step out of your silo and change your perspective in order to open up channels in your thinking you didn’t know where there. Removing yourself from the familiar will help you see other ways of doing things.
Find value in what you have at your fingertips
We’ve all been there. You need to write an article, and you find yourself facing a blank page and a blinking curser, just waiting for your first word. But you then ask a colleague for an idea, and before you know it, you’ve got 1000 words written.
You start with nothing, but once you get a couple of suggestions, it’s amazing how your creative juices start flowing.
The same is true when looking to find a solution to a challenge. Rather than looking at the resources available to you (time, money, people, ideas), and see them as limited. The trick is to find value in the opportunity, accept it, and build on it. Be resourceful. Who do you know in your network that can help? What can you trade for support? What do you have that can be repackaged to create new value?
The key is being able to find the resources in the most effective way to make things happen.
Persistence when pushing through boundaries, to unlock potential.
Do you know what “grit” is? It’s the ability to stay committed to a goal despite the obstacles, adversity or failure. This persistence is seen to be more important than IQ when looking at success in one’s life.
But the key to persistence isn’t just banging your head against a wall, or constantly adapting to find new solutions. It’s also rooted in motivation and having that emotional connection to a challenge. Once you have that personal motivation to push through boundaries, you’ll start to see the opportunity for creative innovation. This is the method to unlocking your potential.
Be brave and dare to be different.
- You may have noticed; we are living in a moment of profound disruption.
- The way we used to work? Forget it.
- Skills that companies previously overlooked, are now essential.
- We need professionals who can both think and feel, comfortable in ambiguous situations, remaining flexible and empathetic.
Professionals who can challenge the status quo, and fight for more human and responsible business practices. And have the capability to see the creative opportunity and advantage in constraints.
Challenge the status quo and don’t conform. And, remember, this change starts with you – it’s everyone’s business to turn constraints into advantages.
To be able to address the issues we are facing, in all areas of life and business, we need everyone to be brave, and dare to be different. And to have the belief within themselves that they are capable to turn constraints into opportunities.
We all face scarcity in our personal and professional lives. But the ability to turn constraints into opportunities will increasingly be important for creative and innovative success. Our future depends on everyone being able to embrace these 5 tips, not only unlocking their creative potential, but as a result, finding the life-changing innovation the world needs.
