Can Innovation be Bad ?

 

To keep your innovation flowing, you have to constantly innovate, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it's going well. Technology is becoming more and more important as a part of our lives, even though we might not fully realise its potential. We think that technology will solve all problems, and we use it without thinking about the consequences. But what if there are negative side effects?

With every invention that comes along, there are always those who get upset because they have no idea how to control technological advancement and make it beneficial to everyone. The term "innovation" sounds good on paper, but in reality, we can become dependent on these new ideas and often forget about where the benefits come from. So can we really consider ourselves innovators when we use modern technology? Or maybe it is just the way other people live their lives that makes us look like dweebs?

What if Innovation Is Destructive?

Have you ever thought about the positive aspects of using innovations? Well, many of us today believe that these gadgets and devices are very useful for them. However, if you have used some of these devices, then you probably know how much time and effort it takes to take care of something while doing so. For example, I need to do my shower while washing dishes at home, or you may go out every night before work to buy milk. If you want to buy something on Amazon, you’ll have to wait, put in everything you want to buy, and even pack your bags in a lot of confusion. What if this was done differently? In fact, with each device that comes into our daily lives, we are continuously pushed to adapt and expand, and this creates stress and anxiety. It seems we now must be innovative, stay up-to-date in all things, and never let anything fall by the wayside. This is stressful! Why risk all that effort when a new thing comes along that saves us all? Are you really saying that people should stop innovating? Not at all. On the contrary, we absolutely should continue innovating and creating, and in order to do that, we must first understand why innovation can have harmful results.

How Does Innovative Thinking Lead To Harmful Consequences?

There is an old maxim: "If you fail to prepare, you will not succeed." If a student were to attempt to learn and apply these words in their everyday lives, they would notice that preparing for the future seems impossible. They would try and test their knowledge of any subject and find that learning and applying it may lead to failure. Instead of simply trying to learn anything new once a week or whenever they feel stressed, students have resorted to shortcuts by focusing on one particular skill, area of interest, or even just trying to memorize information. They could spend several hours focused solely on reading through a textbook one day, only to find weeks later that nothing changed. Now that's pretty bad luck! Students have taken shortcuts that have actually given them less knowledge of a topic of study they previously studied. According to the Harvard Business Review, people with high levels of uncertainty avoidance are better able to handle ambiguity than "people with low tolerance for uncertainty, such as anxious people." Being uncertain can lead to procrastination, which, in turn, leads to a lack of self-control and poor decision-making. People with a high level of confidence have found success even if they had great ideas. When faced with uncertainties about their abilities, they are likely to act faster and better rather than taking risks. Also, people with higher levels of inhibition are more likely to avoid danger by slowing down and concentrating on long-term goals versus short-term goals. These actions are extremely detrimental in regards to education and other types of endeavors, where uncertainty avoidance can cause significant hindrances to success.

In addition to having bad luck with success, it has been scientifically proven that creativity leads to greater productivity due to increased attention to detail, which allows people to solve problems more effectively. With creative minds, businesses increase sales, and thus a business can generate profit. Research shows that people are more productive at things they do when it feels like they're solving issues themselves rather than relying on others. This means we create solutions with our heads instead of waiting on others to solve these issues. There is also evidence that if employees know that they get paid weekly for completing tasks, then they are likely to complete tasks more efficiently with fewer mistakes. Although this still only applies to certain professions, At most small companies and stores, it is unlikely that managers or supervisors know what is expected of them based on experience. By spending less time on planning and organizing and more time working on activities that require them to think logically and creatively, it leads to decreased stress, which leads to better performance. Because they have fewer distractions, they can concentrate more. One interesting aspect of creativity is that when individuals are challenged intellectually, they tend to see patterns that they had otherwise overlooked, which helps them gain insights regarding different situations. This type of problem-solving requires people to pay close attention to details and how all parts interrelate to improve efficiency and overall effectiveness. Many of us cannot stand to move past simple projects that we complete routinely. Rather, we tend to focus more on building upon the skills that we currently possess, thus increasing our capacity to use new skills and talents that may prove valuable in the future. Another unfortunate consequence of relying on inventions to solve our problems, especially big ones, is competition among competitors who produce similar products. 

Just a few years ago, there were nearly no smartphones out there, and Apple came along with the iPhone to change everything. No longer can people use paper maps to plan trips or set appointments. You can now search Google Maps without ever leaving your house, book your hotel room, and access your Facebook friends' photos on your phone. A number of apps on the market today allow users to compare travel insurance policies online, book flights and hotels, and more. Along with competitive pricing, companies now use machine learning algorithms to determine which customers are most profitable and offer discounts to those who buy in bulk. Even if you don't use this service, this does happen to those who rely on services like Uber, Airbnb, Instacart, etc. Uber and Lyft ride-sharing have made traveling easier by allowing people to hail cabs and drop off packages and other items without carrying them to the door. Once again, the smartphone is allowing people to communicate virtually anywhere in the world, not just in urban areas. People are beginning to adopt new habits that will positively impact their health and happiness. As seen above, some entrepreneurs use their brains and ingenuity to develop successful new ideas that may lead a company to boom. Others have to learn to balance between pushing too hard and remaining efficient and effective. Ultimately, competition is good for everyone, whether it's physical, mental, emotional, or monetary. Most importantly, it teaches you the value of perseverance and hard work.

How Do We Avoid Having Negative Outcomes from Using Innovations?

An innovator is someone who wants to push boundaries and explore the unknown, and they know how difficult it is to achieve and sustain success over time. While people who aren’t innovative may struggle to start a business and survive through tough times, those who are open to experimentation and new experiences can thrive as long as they hold onto their sense of optimism and enthusiasm. Allowing yourself the opportunity for growth and learning gives you courage when you are feeling overwhelmed or defeated. Without fear of failing or facing rejection, you have the ability to embrace challenges and rise above all obstacles. Moreover, learning and experimenting are also key to achieving success because it is easy to fall into old routines and habits that negatively affect creativity, innovation, and originality. And although the list below may seem daunting, here are five steps you can follow in order to reduce your chances of experiencing harm associated with adopting, adapting, or embracing new technologies:

1. Have Empathy: Understand your customers. Figure out what your clients want and help them achieve it. Ask yourself what you would prefer to hear from someone in that situation. This should give you an understanding of how others would be feeling at that moment, and it will also help you decide what to say and how much to say. Knowing your audience helps you provide tailored recommendations for your product, and it will help you determine what makes your customers happy and dissatisfied with your services.

2. Know how your competitors work and grow: Comparing isn't the enemy. It's the friendliest way to discover what works and what doesn't. Use your intuition and ask yourself how your rivals solve business problems. Don't be afraid to experiment by putting them against one another, but remember that not all markets or products are created equal. Always look for opportunities to find out where they can better serve your customers. Focus on the ones you find most successful and replicate those strategies. Think outside the box and bring your own unique spin to the wheel. Look for new and exciting projects and applications that can enhance existing ones. Remember, you can build new features on top of what already exists; all you have to do is sell them. You can find out just how talented your competitors are, so you can work together to develop new and improved methods of communicating with your customers.

3. Try New Things: Try new ideas and use them for a variety of things. Don't limit yourself to only one thing or one industry. Everyone is always changing and adapting to new conditions, so you have the option to try new methods as well. Whether it’s mobile app creation, web design, gaming, virtual assistants, software development, digital marketing, SEO, etc., you don’t have to stick to a single path. Experiment with numerous approaches instead of staying stagnant. Learn to accept things as they come and never be afraid to experiment or seek out new solutions. 

After all, what's next?