Out Think

About the Author

G. Shawn Hunter is the vice president and executive producer for Skillsoft's leadership video-learning products. He has collaborated with and interviewed hundreds of executives, thought leaders, academics, and authors globally. Hunter co-founded Targeted Learning Corp. (TLC) with his father, Hal Hunter, PhD, which was acquired by Skillsoft in 2007. His book, "Out Think: How Innovative Leaders Drive Exceptional Outcomes," leverages his extensive experience and insights from these interviews to provide actionable strategies for fostering innovation within organizations.

Main Idea

The central thesis of "Out Think" is that innovation has become the primary driver of success in the 21st century. Hunter argues that creativity, mental flexibility, and collaboration have displaced traditional intelligence and determination as core ingredients of competitive advantage. The book provides a framework for understanding and implementing innovative practices, emphasizing the importance of trust, inquiry, exploration, aspiration, and connection in driving exceptional outcomes.

Table of Contents

1. Marketquake: Moving Beyond Arrested Decay
2. Trust: Establish the Engine of Leadership
3. Inquiry: Provoke with Questions, Not Answers
4. Exploration: Go to the Woodshed
5. Aspiration: Dream Well - You May Find Yourself There
6. Edge: Embrace New Kinds of Risk
7. Connection: Collaborate to Innovate
8. Mash-Up: Borrow Brilliance
9. Action: Get Moving or Accept the Consequences
10. Signature: Make It Your Own
11. Purpose: Connect with "Why"
12. Sustaining the Innovative Mindset

Marketquake: Moving Beyond Arrested Decay

Hunter describes the current economic landscape as a "marketquake," where rapid changes necessitate agile responses from organizations. He differentiates between creativity, innovation, and invention, emphasizing that innovation is about implementing new ideas. The shrinking innovation-delivery gap demands that companies accelerate their value-creation pipelines. Factors like global collaboration technologies and open-innovation practices are reshaping the competitive marketplace.

Hunter uses the term "marketquake" to describe the volatility and rapid change in the current economic environment. Companies must embrace agility and innovation to survive and thrive in this context. Creativity, innovation, and invention are distinct concepts that play crucial roles in this landscape. According to Paul Sloane, "Creativity is the capability or act of conceiving something original or unusual. Innovation is the implementation of something new. Invention is the creation of something that has never been made before and is recognized as the product of some unique insight."

The competitive marketplace is influenced by several accelerating forces, such as the ubiquity of technologies that enable global collaboration and the increased accessibility of new ideas and commercial opportunities in emerging markets. Open-innovation practices and the collaboration between companies and external individuals or groups are becoming more common. These trends are essential for organizations to stay competitive and innovate effectively.

To navigate this marketquake, companies must focus on creating new and distinctive value that the market recognizes and rewards. The speed at which competitors can emerge and deliver innovative products and services is increasing, making it crucial for organizations to accelerate their innovation processes. This requires a shift in mindset and practices to embrace creativity, mental flexibility, and collaboration.

Trust: Establish the Engine of Leadership

Trust is foundational for innovative leadership. Hunter stresses the importance of transparent operations and creating a compelling vision of the future. Leaders must engage with their teams through powerful storytelling and by modeling desired behaviors. They should inspire energy and commitment by recognizing individual contributions and ensuring continuous progress.

"Great leaders love what they do and feel great purpose in it. That rubs off on those they work with." - G. Shawn Hunter

Building trust within an organization is the cornerstone of leadership and innovation. Hunter emphasizes that transparent business operations are essential to establish this trust. Leaders need to communicate core ideas consistently and use powerful stories to inspire change. Modeling the behavior they wish to see in others and creating an environment of continuous energy and enthusiasm are crucial.

Hunter suggests that strategic stories help people remember key priorities and the reasons behind their work. People are more likely to recall compelling stories than data and statistics. Therefore, leaders should use stories that have a singular message and require a few key actions to achieve the depicted goal. This approach helps in creating a shared understanding and direction within the organization.

Moreover, leaders must demonstrate a deep love and purpose for their work, which naturally inspires their teams. The concept of servant leadership is essential, where leaders see themselves as supporting their people and processes rather than sitting at the top. This mindset helps in creating a supportive and energizing environment where innovation can thrive.

• Create and communicate a compelling vision of the future
• Recognize and praise individual contributions
• Ensure constant progress and meaningful work
• Engage fully in each interaction with team members

Inquiry: Provoke with Questions, Not Answers

Innovation thrives on curiosity and inquiry. Hunter encourages leaders to ask probing questions and remain open to new ideas. He advises exposing oneself to new environments and connecting with diverse people to stimulate creative thinking. By nurturing curiosity, leaders can drive meaningful and valuable innovation.

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." - Shunryu Suzuki

Inquiry is a critical component of the innovation journey. It involves asking, probing, and investigating to uncover new possibilities. Leaders must remain curious and open to where their inquiries may lead. This openness to new ideas and perspectives is essential for driving innovation.