The recent Speech from the Throne stressed that a key factor in the health and well-being of our economy lies in our ability to be innovative and creative. I agree. In fact, we have no choice. Let’s get at it!

Sounds good, but who should get at it? Who should we turn to for innovative thinking and action? Does the innovative spirit move in a few special or specially trained people? Or is it possible that the innovative spirit resides in each of us, and is there for the finding? Imagine the cumulative impact on Canada’s economic well-being if the latter were true.

I believe that the latter is true. I believe that each person has, and can identify, an intrinsic motivator – that driving force that gets them up and going and keeps them connected to things in their world every day – and that every person has the capacity to be innovative through their intrinsic motivator. In fact, I think that we cannot stop ourselves from being innovative. What is lacking, however, is every individual’s ability to recognize what their form of innovation looks like. What is also lacking is leaders knowing how to recognize what innovation looks like for every one of their people.

Some people’s innovation is overt and much easier to recognize. However, in others it’s much more subtle, but equally valuable to the success of our economy. These subtle innovations are usually overlooked and opportunities to cultivate them get missed.

Imagine what could happen if every person could identify and apply his/her own intrinsic motivator and be consciously innovative. Imagine what could happen if every leader was able to recognize innovation in whichever form it presents itself in every employee.

As a consultant and executive coach, I help my clients identify their intrinsic motivator in order to help them find their best fit at work. The side benefit is that I get to see how they are likely to use it to be innovative in the workforce. I find myself wanting to extend my practice to coach clients and their leaders on how to recognize what their form of innovation looks like and how to use it every day to make a difference for the organization.

I think we have an easier place to start than by trying to motivate people into a state of being innovative. I think we simply need to help people become aware of what their innovation already looks like and help leaders recognize and cultivate innovation in whatever form it takes for each person.