This squirrel shares its nuts because it’s an innovation squirrel.
Over the years, we’ve worked with many organisations, teams and individuals (and squirrels) to help them develop better strategies for creativity and innovation. What we’ve discovered is that new technology can help facilitate innovation, that a well-considered process can enable good ideas to become reality but the key ingredient to any successful innovation or change programme is people.
That’s why we’ve developed the innovation animals quiz. Find out what innovation animal you are here.
It’s a playful tool to help you identify your own innovation skills and preferences as well as those of your team. When you understand more about each other’s approaches to innovation it helps you to work together more effectively to make your good ideas happen.
For example innovation squirrels are social, curious and bold like other squirrels, and unlike other squirrels they know that hiding their nuts is not the best innovation strategy.
The innovation squirrel struggles to settle for the way ‘things are done around here’ and is restless to find a better way. Their favourite questions are ‘Why?’ and ‘So what?’
They share their nuts!
Innovation squirrels don’t hide their ideas away. They get them out in the open. By sharing their thoughts they give the other animals in their team the opportunity to build on their ideas and make them better.
The important team dynamic is that the squirrel feels safe to leave its nuts out in the open without fear of ridicule. If you have a squirrel in your team, you must create a supportive environment and be respectful of their nuts.
If you don’t, the squirrel may choose to bury them, and what if those nuts are the game-changing ideas that get lost, never to see the light of day? That is a bad outcome for everyone.
Take the animal quiz here. It’s just thirteen questions in 3 minutes to find out what innovation animal you are.
If you would like to know more about innovation animals, your innovation dynamic as a team and how to improve your performance, do get in touch lucy@lucidity.org.uk.
Illustration: Moyra Scott
I did your quiz and discovered that I am a bison. I duly entered my email address, but unfortunately have not received any feedback. Possibly there was a mistake in my typing or some other basic reason, but I would be interested in reading the feedback. My colleague – a squirrel – received a very informative page…
Thank you.
Hi Doug – sorry you didn’t receive your bison profile. I’ll look into what happened. I’ve sent your bison profile to your inbox. Best wishes Lucy