Our latest featured blog is a series of videos from Gavin Russell, with his tips on how HR practitioners can improve their ability to be innovative. With over 20 years in talent transformation, Gavin has helped businesses ranging from small start-ups to multinational corporations rapidly evolve their approach to talent.

He has led major talent change programmes at Skype, Microsoft, Foxtel and DTZ and is the author of ‘Transformation Timebomb’, a business guidebook for the digital age. He holds certifications in Mastering Business Models, Value Propositions and Business Testing, as well as Design Thinking. 

Gavin has given us his top 5 tips for HR practitioners on improving their ability to be innovative.

4. Embrace absurdity:

Einstein said, “If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it”.

Absurdity accelerates creativity.

It’s a team sport – creativity is not a linear process. Some people’s crazy ideas will prompt other crazy ideas.

Include a variety of perspectives – working in silos will give you a limited viewpoint, which in turn limits your output.  

Truly share all your work with each other. You cannot afford to be shy or judgemental, just let the ideas flow.

You must prioritise quantity over quality: generate lots of ideas, some of them will be awful, some excellent. You’ve got to push through: It’s hard to break that habit but it’s well worth it.

You can find out more about what Gavin does on his website here.

James Cumming is our MD, Interim and Transformation Search specialist. Please get in contact with him directly to discuss any of these topics further.