[~the one about demystifying innovation vs 'you cannot force creativity'~]

Unveiling the Structured Path to Breakthrough Ideas with the GIMI Methodology

My brother (@ingvarhendriks) and I were raised in a home where creativity was promoted extensively. Not only in the sense of art and music, but more importantly, in the way of thinking. In the era we grew up in, BG (Before Google), my father would stimulate any discussion about our opinions, ideas and assumptions, by making us look for additional information in one of the at least 5 encyclopedias we had on one of the many bookshelves...

Despite our very different directions, both my brother and I moved into creative industries: Ingvar into industrial design, where he is a master in smoothing out design and innovation projects and me into leadership, strategy and innovation. Both of us are experiencing the strong "excuse"-nature of the remark "you cannot force creativity". Creativity, after all, happens in a black box; you put people together in a workshop with a lot of flipcharts and postits, straws, paper and sticky tape and out comes something amazing. Wrong. Creativity can be structured and focused on an end-result. The coincidence of success needs to be taken out.

Consequently, Ingvar has spent almost 30 years in acquiring methodologies in design processes and I love all kinds of tools, models and approaches to make leadership, strategy and innovation tangible.

And, by the way, as a passionate musician, writing and producing music with my very talented singer-daughter, I know there is a structure to creativity. But until recently, I wasn't sure about techniques, stories and logic behind it.

Just recently, beginning of 2022, I discovered a global innovation methodology that took away the 'black-box'-type of mystery that surrounds innovation. I have worked together with the biggest bank in Oman, Bank Muscat that adopted this methodology. They asked me to assist in setting up the next phase of their journey in innovation through that methodology.

And as I started to get acquainted with it, I fell in love with the practicality and effectiveness of it; it truly takes the mystery out of innovation!

I inspire leaders to find the new magic as facilitator, inspirator, consultant and coach. So I couldn't wait to be a part of this methodology and became both a Certified Innovation Professional Associate and (soon) manager/leader, as well as Certified Training Partner of the GIM Institute and its counterpart, the IXL Center. This way, I was able to be one of the mentors and facilitators of the process at Bank Muscat and so much more in its slipstream... And working with Dr. Hitendra Patel, Rohan Sakpal, Alba Skendaj and Erila Haska (among others at IXL Center and GIMInstitute) is amazing, icing on the cake with cherries on top!

To state the obvious (at least I hope you find it obvious ;-) ) innovation is the holy grail of progress, the beacon of success, the key to staying ahead in an ever-evolving world. But still, for many, it remains an this black box covered in mystery, where ideas magically materialize. But what if I told you that innovation is not just about creative energy and flashes of brilliance? What if I told you that there's a structured path, a proven methodology that can guide you through the innovation journey and lead you to those game-changing breakthroughs?

Let's demystify innovation.

Gone are the days when innovation was solely attributed to the genius of a few visionaries. Today, innovation is a discipline, a systematic approach that can be learned, practiced, and mastered by anyone willing to embrace it. It's not just about thinking outside the box; it's about understanding the box, deconstructing it, and reshaping it into something entirely new.

At the heart of effective innovation lies structure. Creativity without structure is like a ship without a rudder – it may drift aimlessly or even sink without reaching its destination. It is creativity for the sake of creativity, where success is a coincidence. To truly harness the power of innovation, we must follow a consistent and proven methodology, a roadmap that guides the ideation process from conception to execution.

Enter the GIMI methodology – a structured approach to innovation that combines the best practices of design thinking, lean startup, and agile methodologies.

Through a great number of interventions, solutions and accelerators, the methodology is embedded in your organization, whether it is with your own people guided by the GIMI professionals, or through various post-grad students from universities around the world, certifying people internally or establishing accelerator groups in your organization.

In any case, by following the GIMI methodology, you demystify the creative black box of innovation and transform it into a structured, repeatable process that drives real results. Whether you're a startup looking to disrupt the market or an established enterprise seeking to stay ahead of the curve, GIMI provides a clear roadmap for turning your ideas into game-changing innovations.

So, dare to innovate by embracing a structure to make it real. And watch as your ideas transform into revolutionary breakthroughs that shape the future of your industry.