Ownership is an exceptional innovation diagnostic. Specifically, who came up with the good idea?

A dysfunctional team will have a very clear memory of who the idea owner is. Attribution is perfectly clear, and the “innovator” who “came up with” the idea makes sure to remind others.

Outstanding teams, on the other hand, are a little less clear about ownership. They can’t really remember who had the idea, because the best ideas almost “happen to” them, the result of low-ego collaboration at its finest.

“You can’t be good unless you stop thinking. The best work is on the other side of thinking.”

I heard this from a creative hero of mine, Ato Essandoh. Ato is a gifted artist and actor, who’s gotten to work alongside some of the best talent in the movie industry. His key insight for making a scene really work — “You can’t be good unless you stop thinking. The best work is on the other side of thinking.” — reminded me of something I’ve seen play out time and time again, in spheres seemingly far removed from a movie set: the best ideas and innovations are the product of a team humble enough to stop trying to be creative, and present enough to be obvious.

Related: Be Obvious

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