What Predicts the Ability to Innovate?

NASA had a problem.  What's the screening criteria for a job that's never been done before - like going to the moon? Namely how do you find those guys (and it was guys then) who have the highest predictive chance of success at something that has never been done before?  They found test/fighter pilots.  But in more general terms, they found a talent pool of people who had failed and recovered.  (It's rather apparent what happened to those who had failed and NOT recovered.)  The generalized criteria:  Error recovery (meaning resiliency and adaptability) and NOT failure avoidance. 

Now think about this same question in terms of today's media or technology companies - whether at the business or individual level. If innovation is determined as a key to differentiation and success, and innovation means doing something that has never been done before - then how do you define the talent criteria and what are the predictors?  Where and how do you find your version of "test pilots cum astronauts?"

Randy Nelson of Pixar provides an interesting take on this question, essentially breaking it down into four criteria. 

1. Depth: How do you find the "parallel predictor" of someone who will succeed at something new? Look at what else in life they have mastered on a personal or business level. "Mastery in anything is a good predictor in mastering the thing you want done."

2. Breadth: Narrowness is sometimes the thing you get with depth and this needs to be balanced by breath. You don't want a repetitive one trick pony again if the challenge is going to be to innovate. You want "someone who is more interested than interesting." This is indicative of a problem solver; someone who will lean into the problem not just acknowledge its existence.

3. Communication: "Communication is a destination, not a source." It is not something that the "emitter" can measure, although plenty of times we get that judgment. Only the receiver of communication can measure it. The listener is the one who can say they get it.

4. Collaboration: "Collaboration is not a synonym for cooperation; it is not cooperation on steroids." Innovation requires many people working together; it's not a one person job. So you need a system or protocol that allows people not to get in each other's way and enables them to amplify what each is doing.

Lesson? In the innovation economy, stop looking for someone who has done it before. Look for someone who has done something else amazing before (and not necessarily in the same business.)