Can innovation exist without creativity? Before we get into a philosophical debate, arguing over whether or not human agency really exists or if everything is predetermined, let’s get down to business. Shall we? In the strictest of terms, innovation is the novelty of evolution. Innovation in business relies on creativity, I argue, unless it isn’t pure luck that a scientist stumbles upon a new chemical without creating it. But how a newly discovered chemical changes civilization is up to the creativity of the scientist.

So, if business innovation relies on creativity, does this mean that by honing your creativity you can increase innovation in business? Assuming innovation is a good thing for your business, becoming more creative, or thinking outside of the box as others say, gives a rising chance for innovation in any sector.

For instance, a fighter in mixed martial arts who has studied unchanging techniques over a period of thirty years can suddenly get creative and break away from tradition. It’s never too late to invent new fighting styles and new ways to subdue and grapple your opponent. With that said, starting to learn how to fight by educating yourself on the founding principles of your style or school makes it easier to then break away from tradition and begin to innovate effectively. Because, of course, innovation may be a downgrade or not very desirable at all. That’s why it’s also best to leave innovation up to the experts who know what’s best, and where creativity is actually useful and not destructive.

In a business setting, letting the wrong people get too creative can be disastrous, whether the business is long-established or up and coming. This often happens when young people inherit their parents business and break away from tradition. In these cases, creativity is not always good and instead of innovating it’s sometimes best to pay respect to methods that have already proven to work. Conserving tradition is important, but innovation, too, like switching to electric cars, for example, can bring amazing benefits to the planet as a whole.

All of this is why I’m of the opinion that in any business their must be a balance of creativity and tradition. Too much of one or the other can lead to unwanted results in earnings reports. Young people may put security at risk by putting too much faith in change, while old people can put a damper on growth by refusing the young their freedom to make change. So, like in all things perhaps, maintaining a balance is important.

Thanks for exploring these ideas with me.