Skillset vs. Mindset

Blue Sky3.jpg

Yesterday, as one of my favorite clients introduced me as the day’s presenter at one of her company’s leadership development programs. something she said caught my attention: Innovation skills. That’s what she was telling the 41 business leaders of the future they were going to learn from me.

Yes, it was true. I was going to help these people become more skillful at innovating. But that was only half the story. Actually, less than half. Much less.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned these past 25 years of working as an innovation provocateur, it’s this: mindset — not skillset — is the name of the game in business these days.

When a person’s mindset (i.e. receptivity, curiosity, adaptability, enthusiasm, focus) is in the right place, skillset becomes secondary.