Creativity and innovation are sometimes used interchangeably. While they are closely related, there are key differences:
- Creativity is the act of generating novel and useful ideas, often by connecting existing knowledge in new ways.
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Innovation is the realization of those new ideas such as turning them into products, services, practices, or solutions — that create value.
This distinction shows that we cannot innovate without creativity. Fortunately, humans are inherently creative — but in order to turn creativity into innovation, organizations must foster an environment where people are encouraged to express and develop their ideas. Once creative ideas emerge, they must be combined with real-world data, expertise, relationships, and resources to fully unlock their potential and bring them to life.