Few things gets our mind going as much as confronting change in the moment. Our minds go into overdrive trying to figure out new scenarios that we can set up and make “predictable” again. This is just how we are programmed, but the process of dealing with new things is crucial to our growth. I would like to share a story of how change has led to innovation for me.

I have improvised music with my colleague Ray Dillard countless times over the past 13 years. We often start our corporate programs that way. We do this so much actually that we have to work hard at being un-predictable to each other. We do this by deliberately trying out new ideas live in the moment. We do that be actually try to throw each musical other curve balls. Obviously the environment to do this has to be one of mutual respect and comfort but this very exciting for both of us and hopefully for our audiences as well. While it always goes well, once in a while something quite magical happens as a result of this. A spark of a musical idea surprises us. At the risk of sounding a bit ‘Hippy-ish”, it is like the idea has reached out to grab us saying ” here I am, use me”. Its value and attractiveness are usually apparent to both of us simultaneously. We usually take it and expand on it until it either goes away or leads into something else. Maybe that is not such a “hippy” concept after all, don’t successful businesses do this all the time? Think Apple!

Recently, after one of our programs, Ray and I commented to each other on how well our opening improvisation had gone that day and we spoke about couple of special musical moments that had occurred. Neither of us knew which of us originated those ideas but they seemed extra special. We simply racked it up to a “nice groove ” and didn’t give it much more thought, probably because these moments are not so rare for us.

However, on our next job with new client, something interesting happened. During our performance, both of us tried to recreate some things from that previous improvisation. We had not discussed doing that beforehand. I have to admit I was excited in the moment as I remembered how “cookin”* it was last time. I wanted to experience it again. (See there we go… we tried to make a change into something “predictable”. It is so hard to escape this). It wasn’t exactly the same but it was now something we could draw on if we choose. So by imposing change on ourselves this led to innovation in our performance.

Change is definitely the seed of great ideas. Countless good (and bad) ideas occur during a period of change. It takes lots of analysis and planning before you turn the good ones into something viable. Many great companies have done this. Perhaps if we would look at change as being a relative of creativity we would not be so fearful.

* “cookin’” – a musical term meaning really hot rhythmic groove