Russ Schoen

5 years ago I started taking Aikido, a Japanese martial art because I was interested in getting in shape and learning something at the same time. When I began training, I didn’t realize how many of the lessons learned in aikido could be applied to deliberate creativity and innovation. After leaving class this past Wednesday, I decided that I wanted to write about aikidovation or "the way of deliberate innovation". What follows are just a couple (okay 3) of my thoughts…and how I might connect them to deliberate innovation

1) The first "technique" that I was taught in aikido is how to fall safely and get up. So when someone throws you or does an attack on you, you can safely fall and then get right back up. Application to the world of innovation: You must be willing to take some risk in order to innovate. Along with that risk comes the potential to "fall down", or fail. How do you react when that happens?

2) At the beginning of class, we ALWAYS spend at least 10 minutes stretching and getting ourselves, mentally and physically prepared for class. This is our process for getting ready.

Application What is your process you use to prepare yourself for the innovating process? do you have a strategy? do you know how you are going to clarify the situation? generate ideas? develop your new solution and get it implemented?

3) After we stretch, we generally practice tai sabakis, which are basic body movements. Here is the thing, all of the techniques we learn from the very beginner techniques to the advanced techniques that black belts know all start with the same basic body movements. BIG APPLICATION. There are some basic innovation "moves" that will help you innovate whether you are a beginning innovator or been innovating for a while. One of the basic moves is phrasing problems or challenges as questions using the question starters How might or in what ways might… Your task: 1) Think of something you want to innovate. It could be a work project, your next vacation or even a relationship. 2) Phrase it as an open ended question using the statement starter above. For example, I’d love to finish renovating my apartment. My open-ended question is In what ways might I finish my apartment in the next 3 weeks? What’s your question?