The Idea Climate Equation

The Idea Climate Equation™:
the mounting tension between creativity and
logic

Tony Vengrove, Founder & CEO
Miles Finch Innovation

© 2012 Miles Finch Innovation 1
Idea Climate Equation™ and its design are trademarks of Miles Finch Innovation, LLC

Imagine…

… Ice Cream

Ideas
are
Fragile!


Ideas need a proper climate in order to sprout and take hold.


“What process does your
company use for innovation?”

Source: Copyright © 2009 Masterson Consulting LLC. All rights reserved.


A Paradox…

Everyone wants creativity,
but the uncertainty of creative
ideas tends to scare many
away.


“Logic is Kryptonite”
“…I’ve always seen logic as a solid.
It has mass and carries within it a
terrifying weight. It is extremely
powerful and can stop dreamers
dead in their tracks. The problem is,
for hundreds of years, we’ve been
taught to respect its potency. There
may be gods, but logic is the
Supreme Being.”

“[Logic] speaks with history on its
side and all its received knowledge
can make anything new seem foolish
and impractical.”

- John Hunt, The Art of the Idea

Rationalism and Romanticism
• Rationalism:
– The belief that creativity is generated by the
conscious, deliberating, intelligent, rational
mind.

• Romanticism:
– The belief that creativity bubbles up from an
irrational unconscious, and that rational
deliberation interferes with the creative
process.
Adapted from Explaining Creativity, R. Keith Sawyer (2006), Oxford University Press, p. 15

Understanding the Tension

• We look at the world • We look at the world
in a new way. in the same way.

• Newness validates • Sameness predicts
success. success

• Values the unknown. • Values the known.


Innovation Agility
Creativity takes place throughout a project, not just at the beginning.

Creativity

Gate Gate Gate Gate
1 2 3 4

Logic

Time

The Innovation Vortex
Shifting between creative & logical thinking should be a core competency.
Creativity

Your
Objective

© 2012 Miles Finch Innovation
Logic
Idea Climate Equation™ and its design are trademarks of Miles Finch Innovation, LLC 12

How to build an Idea Climate:

Develop agility between
creative and logical thinking.

Become aware of what the
situation calls for!


A final word on process…

… think of it as “ballast.”

Belief is our natural stat


“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads
to belief. And once that belief becomes a
deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
- Muhammad Ali

“A belief is simply a thought I keep on thinking.”
- E. Hicks/Abraham


Two Things A Vision Should Do:

1.Connect with people on an emotional level
Invoking altruism, pride, belief

1.Tap into logical self-interest
Money, position, recognition

Adpated from Katzenach, Steffen & Kronley, (2012), Cultural Change that Sticks, Harvard Business Review

The Dangers of Doubt

“…Corporate antibodies can stunt a company’s growth when
they shut down the fresh ideas and unconventional thinkers
it so badly needs.”
“Antibodies are the road-block to innovation.”
- Phil McKinney, Former CTO of HP

Source: McKinney, P. (2012). How to Fight and Survive the Corporate Antibodies, from philmckinney.com


“Let me just play Devil’s Advocate
for a minute…”

“The Devil’s Advocate encourages idea-wreckers to assume
the most negative possible perspective, one that sees only
the downside, the problems, the disasters-in-waiting.”
“Once those floodgates open, they can drown a new
initiative in negativity.”
- Tom Kelley, IDEO

Source: Kelley, T. (2005). The Ten Faces of Innovation


Engage in Conversation
Force Field Analysis: identify what helps and what gets in the way

Driving Forces Restraining Forces

Stable
quasi-stationary
equilibrium

Source: Lewin, K. (1951) Field Theory in Social Science – Force Field Analysis


Increase Your Cultural
Consciousness
• Recognize times to be creative vs. logical.

• Recognize the perspective of your
colleagues.

• Get in the Innovation Vortex!


Get Comfortable with
Creativity
• Demonstrate that you want to hear ideas
(even the absurd ones).

• People don’t want YOU to be creative.
THEY want to be creative.

• Get out of the way. Don’t be an “antibody.”


Champion Objectives
• Use objectives to judge ideas.

• Use logic to give constructive feedback.

• Create opportunities for idea shaping and
refinement.


Learn How to Sell Ideas

• Selling ideas takes
PREPARATION!!!

• Become an Idea
Ambassador.


Seven Key Principles
1. When belief is present, ideas are built up.
2. When doubt reigns, ideas are killed.
3. When people believe, sharing ideas makes them feel
smart and productive.
4. When people doubt, stating why an idea won’t work
makes them feel smart and productive.
5. When subjectivity reigns, the most senior person in the
room usually wins.
6. Eliminating doubt increases belief.
7. Too much logic diminishes creativity. Too much
creativity creates chaos.

Contact:
@Tony_Vengrove
tony.vengrove@milesfinchinnovation.com
milesfinchinnovation.com

© 2012 Miles Finch Innovation 28 of 28

The Idea Climate Equation

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The Idea Climate Equation