The quest to maintain innovation over time is a formidable challenge, especially considering the tendency for companies and individuals to experience peaks of creativity followed by periods of stagnation. While examining successful innovators like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Sam Walton, or Richard Warren Sears can offer valuable insights, an intriguing historical figure renowned for his multidisciplinary brilliance provides a unique perspective on sustained innovation: Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo da Vinci, primarily known as a painter but also a polymath with achievements in various fields, offers a set of principles that define his innovative approach to life. These principles, outlined by Michael J. Gelb in "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci," serve as a guide for individuals seeking to foster continuous innovation:
- Curiosita: An insatiable curiosity and a relentless commitment to lifelong learning. Successful individuals often attribute their success to a voracious appetite for knowledge and continuous learning.
- Dimonstrazione: The commitment to testing knowledge through experience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. This aligns with the scientific method, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and learning from failures.
- Sensazione: The continual refinement of the senses to enliven experience. Active listening, an essential skill in business, relates to being aware of one's surroundings and using sensory information for inspiration.
- Sfumato: Embracing ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty. In the dynamic business environment, the ability to navigate uncertainties and embrace ambiguity is crucial for innovation.
- Arte/Scienza: Striking a balance between logic and imagination, art and science. Innovation thrives when there's a harmonious blend of analytical thinking and creative imagination, often referred to as whole-brain thinking.
- Corporalita: Maintaining a healthy body and mind. The link between physical well-being and creative thinking highlights the importance of holistic health in fostering innovation.
- Connessione: Recognizing the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena. Seeing the links between different elements can lead to innovative solutions and perspectives.
While Gelb's book delves into the practical application of these principles, the essence lies in cultivating awareness in our lives. Being attuned to our surroundings, maintaining a balance between logic and creativity, and embracing continuous learning are vital for fostering a mindset conducive to innovation. After all, innovation often stems from paying attention to the world around us.
