Sense Worldwide first shared these principles as part of a webinar to an audience of 90 innovators from around the world. The presentation shared stories and examples of how cognitive diversity has driven breakthrough strategies and created future-proofed innovation pipelines for leading global businesses. This document distills five principles of cognitive diversity that drive breakthrough innovation and how you might put them into practice, today. Hosted by Jeremy Brown, founder and CEO, Neil Cooper, US Director of Sense Worldwide and Courtney McLauchlan, Consultant. Sense Worldwide has 20 years experience of supercharging innovation with cognitive diversity. We live and breathe innovation.
If you would like to supercharge your own innovation, contact one of the team today: hello@senseworldwide.com

1. Howmightwe
drivebreakthrough
innovation?

2. pink
#1
Look
outside the
mainstream.
#2
Beware the
curse of
knowledge.
#3
Be bold.
Embrace
ambiguity.
#4
Develop an
experimental
mindset.
#5
Mix it up
The five principles of cognitive diversity to
drive breakthrough innovation.

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When you look outside of the
mainstream, you will see the value of how
diverse and divergent views and opinions
will stretch and challenge traditional
conventions to create something new.
Listen to people you disagree with.
Chat to a cranky colleague. A neighbour
you don’t see eye to eye with. Learn.
Learn More
#1 Look outside the mainstream.

4. pink
See old problems in new ways. Look at
things like a child would; you will be able
to identify and defuse cognitive biases
and assumptions that can often prevent
fresh thinking. Be open and receptive to a
wider range of possibilities.
Be curious. Use beginner’s eyes.
Challenge your own assumptions. Look
for the intrigue hiding in plain sight.
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#2 Beware the curse of knowledge.

5. pink
Ambiguity can be an uncomfortable thing
for many people; but this anxiety is also a
creative opportunity. Be bold and
embrace the uncertainty. Reframe your
unease with the unknown, use it as fuel
for creative, strategic change.
Trust your instincts. One step at a time.
Nobody has all the answers. Know where
you’re going. Take small steps.
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#3 Be bold. Embrace ambiguity.

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Mitigate the risk of a new idea by
adopting a ‘test & learn’ approach to help
make key decisions. Learn to trust your
intuition and then validate it. Flip it on its
head – question it, pressure-test it,
stretch it, seek creative feedback.
Keep what works. Lose what doesn’t.
Don’t let confirmation bias take root. It’s
all about testing, learning and iterating.
Learn More
#4 Develop an experimental mindset.

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When you seek new experiences you
cannot help to mix it up. You will discover
the benefits of reframing challenges
when tackling complex problems and
how articulating counter-intuitive
solutions can help prompt new thinking.
Break old habits. Start new routines.
Breakthrough innovation should make
you feel uncomfortable at first. Challenge
yourself to change that’s familiar.
Learn More
#5 Mix it up.

8. pink Courtney McLauchlan, Consultant
courtney.mclauchlan@senseworldwide.com
Neil Cooper, Director US
neil.cooper@senseworldwide.com
We do this everyday.
If you would like to supercharge your
innovation, speak to us today.
Jeremy Brown, Founder CEO
jeremy@senseworldwide.com

9. pink
Email hello@senseworldwide.com
Instagram @TheSenseNetwork
LinkedIn /senseworldwide
Join The Sense Network
senseworldwide.com/the-sense-network
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