Introduction
Recent research has shown that conversation is important for improving innovation. It has also been found that conversation improves group and individual performance and knowledge sharing. This article will address some of the principles of innovation and how conversational techniques can be harnessed to improve business outcomes.
Innovation can mean many things, from the minor tweaking of a business process to a totally new invention or discovery. Innovation is also a very hot topic. A search for ‘innovation’ on Google yields over 400 million results. Yet there are also many different ideas on how to innovate.
One of the most common images of discovery and invention is the lone
genius in the laboratory, conceiving grand plans for the new and spectacular. Another is the dramatic ‘Eureka!’ moment of inspiration – Newton under the apple tree, or Archimedes in the bath. Yet as widespread as these notions are, most invention and innovation does not happen this way.
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Image Credits: Midjourney
(Public Domain)In-person, 7–11 September 2026
Warbrook House, Hampshire, UK
We are living and working in conditions of uncertainty, complexity, and rapid change. This week-long workshop with David Gurteen and John Hovell offers a space to practise Conversational Leadership as a shared, lived experience.