By definition, innovation requires a departure from the way things have traditionally been done. However, due to factors such as fear of the unknown and social pressures, many leaders and organizations tend to rely on known solutions without even considering other options. This can lead to stagnation, which may be devastating for companies in a rapidly changing world. 

Kaihan Krippendorff, our guest in Episode 147 of The MINDSet Game® podcast, urges leaders to explore the “fourth option.” He defines this concept by explaining that our brains have a tendency to sort things into groups of three – for instance, we may consider three different solutions and then stop looking, because three seems like a complete number. The fourth option represents the innovative ideas (which may seem bold or even crazy at first) that lie beyond the point at which most people have stopped thinking. 

As an internationally renowned thought leader, consultant, and sought-after keynote speaker on the topics of strategy, growth, and transformation, Kaihan has been recognized by Thinkers50 and ranked by global gurus as among the top 20 management professionals of 2023. With a unique ability to transform difficult concepts into easy-to-understand ideas and practical tools, Kaihan is also the best-selling author of five books and a two-time TEDx speaker whose work has generated over $2.5 billion in annual revenue for many of the world's most recognizable companies. In this week’s episode, Kaihan shares the following:

• A helpful acronym that represents the 5 different conversations you need to have in order to find the fourth option: IDEAS, which stands for imagine, dissect, expand, analyze, and sell
• Simple shifts of mindset and language that leaders and their teams may find helpful when trying to explore new ideas and open the door for innovation
• An alternative framework using the elements of metal, water, wood, fire, and earth that can help explain the cycle of innovation and change 

To learn more about Kaihan, visit his speaker website at https://kaihan.net or his company site at https://outthinker.com, or connect with him on LinkedIn. 

To subscribe to The MINDset Game, visit www.TheMINDsetGame.com.