It is important to distinguish between inventive and innovative. Invention is just a method, medium or a process but innovation takes place when an invention meets market opportunity. Big corporate houses are likely to mingle the two.

More than creativity, the most essential thing that makes a company innovative is a climate that continuously fosters one. This is unlike popular conviction most people share. Your team can’t be creative just because you ask them to, having a corporate environment that promotes taking risks and experimentation is a cushion for innovation.

Looking at the innovation process, creativity is just the first phase and also not the most difficult one for quite a few firms. Designing a new product or service is comparatively more challenging than executing and putting something new in the market. This is why sometimes even the business model itself needs innovation.

Don’t look for a single fix it solution. Try to explore other alternatives and more right answers. This flexes your creative muscles while generating more ideas from a different outlook.  Setting criteria for getting ideas can push your limits. For example: If you decide that I am going to come up with at least   five new ideas for a project or a problem, it can help you come out of the comfort zone and churn out different ideas that you would have never thought of. While gold mining, it takes more than thousands of ounces of ore to produce just one ounce of gold. It is no different with ideas. You need to invest with patience and commitment to get rewards.

Involve others in your problem-solving efforts that bring a different perspective or cultural experience than yours.  In addition to picking the brains of experts and knowledgeable colleagues, talk to people who are unfamiliar about the issue.  By using this approach, you’ll be asked “dumb questions” that can often help you question assumptions, and see your challenge from a different angle with fresh eyes and a more open mind.

Another trick would be to involve people who have a different perspective or come from a different cultural background than yours in problem solving attempts. This brings a fresh perspective to the whole scene. You can also involve people who have no clue about the task coupled with the experts and specialists. The idea behind this is to encourage people to ask questions even the most irrelevant to help you churn out  ideas from a different angle as well as question your previously held assumptions.

Having new experiences is food for innovation. It could be any new experience, such as interacting with someone you usually did not have a chance to or taking up classes for a new language or hobbies you dislike for starters. The cross-pollination of diverse ideas is a primary stimulator for creativity.

Keep some time for yourself for calming your mind as your creativity takes a plunge when your sleep deprived, tired or even in pain.  Few minutes of incubation can produce new ideas and solutions. A treasure of new ideas can be yours if you exercise regularly and eat well.  The influence of regular exercise on your body is known but did you know it boosts brain performance as well.

Each one of us has our own unique creative rhythm cycle. Some of us may get the best ideas early in the morning, some may get it while reading or travelling and the list goes on. The creative people however are smart enough to capture their ideas during this ‘Eureka’ phase and jot it down in their diaries, laptops or tape recorder. Try to be aware of your rhythm and pay attention to the time you are the most productive, you will automatically get the hang of it.

Conclusion:
Creativity and innovation are vital to corporations if they want a potent growth despite economic meltdown. This is holds true of a corporation’s strategy development as much as it is holds true for its product development.  So what makes a company innovative? Some points such as climate that continuously fosters innovation, contemporary PR and marketing, clear innovation strategies with real results and powerful brand name, creative thinkers, flexible leadership, revolutionary ideas and continuous product/service improvement are signs of innovative companies.