The Difference Between Creativity and Innovation
At a recent Chicago Innovation event, I discussed the difference between creativity and innovation. The topic was whether everyone is innovative.
My response was no. Everyone has creativity. But innovation takes more. Creativity is the ability to generate new ideas. Everyone can have ideas. However, innovation requires the professional to transform the creative idea into a tangible outcome. It's about creating value. That's often where that "idea generator" is exposed. What happens next?
The good news is that innovation is a skill that anyone can develop.
The Innovation Authority Myth
According to the 2023 NTT DATA Innovation Index, only 21% of organizations are meeting their innovation goals - despite 96% of executives believing innovation will be their primary source of growth over the next two years. This gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity for professionals throughout the organization.
Countless professionals at all levels of organizations see an opportunity for improvement and think, "Someone should fix this" instead of "I can improve this." That “someone should fix this” mindset locks away countless great ideas and process improvements, leaving talented professionals at all levels stagnant and sometimes bored with the routine nature of their roles.
Become a More Effective Change Agent
On April 3, 2025, join Innovative Mindset Strategist Kamilah Paden for a free webinar: "Unleash Your Inner Change Agent: How to Drive Innovation." You'll discover practical frameworks for driving meaningful change whether you're a leader or individual contributor - tools you can apply immediately.
In this high-impact session, you'll learn:
How to identify high-impact innovation areas within your sphere of influence
Techniques for building support across organizational boundaries
How to choose opportunities with maximum visibility and minimum effort
Why This Matters Now
As Harvard Business Review notes in their article "To Jumpstart Creativity, Try These 8 Prompts," the key to success in today's AI-powered workplace is to "delegate our routine work to technology and dedicate ourselves to more creative pursuits."
The most successful professionals don't wait for permission to innovate—they develop strategies to implement change from wherever they currently sit in the organization.
Register Now
Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to lean into your organization’s changes. Register today at bit.ly/unleashinnovation. Your most valuable ideas deserve to be implemented, and this session will show you exactly how to make that happen.
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