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Innovation is the act or process of introducing new ideas, devices or methods.

History says innovation equals newer and better opportunities for humans.

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.

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In the rapidly changing world, the ability to innovate is a key skill to success and survival.

Innovation is like creativity but goes further into introducing new ideas.

Innovation contains the extra element of promoting one’s ideas.

HOW TO HELP:

CREATIVE TIME:

• Encourage impromptu speaking on various topics.

• Suggest discussions about topics such as the Pyramid of Success of coach John Wooden.

• Conduct group problem-solving challenges such as local, national or world issues.

REVIEW THE BENEFITS OF MISTAKES:

• What do we learn from mistakes?

• What can be done differently?

• What could bring better results?

• What opportunity for growth do mistakes offer?

BE OPEN-MINDED:

• Encourage out of the box thinking.

• Encourage unusual and different methods and techniques to see what evolves.

GIVE THEM FREEDOM:

• Enable them to work things out on their own.

• Give them the opportunity to have autonomy in their actions and interactions.

• Step back and watch how they resolve challenges.

• Wait for them to ask for help or your opinion.

• Over supervision can diminish creativity.

DEMONSTRATE CREATIVITY:

• Encourage them to share their creative hobbies and activities with each other.

• Review any of your own creative activities that you used to do when you were younger, or do now.

ACCEPT CHAOS AND MESS:

• Adults tend to like clean and organized activities.

• Let them be unorganized as they work through creative processes.

• The benefits can be greater than the inconvenience. 

USE PRAISE EFFECTIVELY:

• Giving rewards encourages people to earn more rewards. This can strip them of their internal motivation.

• Comment on their process used and effort made, not results.

ENCOURAGE REDUCING SCREEN TIME:

• Review the challenges of too much screen time.

• Discuss how to make screen time productive.

• Discuss how to reduce their screen time.

INTRODUCING NEW IDEAS:

• Discuss how to discover and introduce new ideas.

• How can we encourage others to try out new ideas?

• The ability to promote change is useful throughout one’s life.

Developing the skill to innovate will greatly help youth be productive, effective and successful as they enter adulthood.

As innovation is similar to creativity. You can find a previous post about creativity from the following link.

http://www.ourfutureleaders.ca/blog/creativity-and-recognizing-opportunities/

We can assist our youth to gain the skill to innovate.

A PARENT’S GUIDE:

There is a guide available which assists parents and others working with youth.

The guide enables a person to be proactive in the success of a child’s future.

It contains activities to assist youth to gain critical soft skills.

They will become more resourceful and independent when they practice and gain these skills.

The guide is available from Our Future Leaders.

Request the Parent’s Guide here: http://www.ourfutureleaders.ca/contact-us/