6.1.1. Inspiration

Inspiration means “god inside” according to its Greek etymology. However, strictly speaking, inspiration breaths air into the lungs from outside, while expiration does the opposite. Inspiration is an external source of ideas, similarities or transpositions to be carried out.

There are several sources of inspiration: painting, art, discoveries made when traveling or by meeting people, cultural differences and on a global level anything that piques our curiosity and engages our five senses. Curiously, nature is the greatest source of inspiration, as it blends the four elements (earth, water, air and fire), and biomimicry¹ explores nature to adapt innovations to our daily life.

6.1.2. Imagination

Imagination is linked to education, and it derives from previous reading and frames of reference. It is drawn from the bottom of our memory and from deep within ourselves. The more a person reads books, fiction, legends, tales and myths, the more prolific his or her imagination will be, as these types of reading contribute to the visualization of imaginary and fictional environments specific to each reader. Imagination involves seeing the unknown, the unrepresented and the yet unseen, like fantastic or magical worlds. It is a sort of mental projection that blends memories and the brain’s ability to create a new and previously unknown frame of reference.

An innovator must develop their imaginary frame of reference to build their skills and ability to imagine things that do not exist. Imagination is a kind of resonance chamber for creativity where, through our mind’s abstraction, symbols can provide meaning and a framework for reflection. Descartes claimed that “the sole purpose of the imagination is to convert sensation into a more or less faithful memory”, whereas for Bossuet “imagining an object is always less intense than feeling it, as the image always loses the force of the original”.

Our imagination is developed, maintained and mobilized on a daily basis [OSB 63, OSB 74]. To train it, we could, for example, visualize some colors, objects and mental images when we are listening music (without any lyrics). By simply letting go mentally, our imagination is stimulated by the vibrations of enjoyable songs that we have chosen ourselves. The result produced will be, for example, a drawing, the description of an environment or a feeling.

6.1.3. Intelligence

Intelligence is the ability to link disjoined elements, create meaning and build something new. It is traditionally defined as “the ability to answer questions on intelligence tests”. These so-called “intelligence” tests, which are often controversial, remain partial and merely take into consideration a part of the aspects related to our intelligence.

The “IQ” test allows us to determine a score on a scale of values. It is actually difficult to quantify intelligence with tests and measure our intellectual activity through products and performances based on psychometric assessments. The IQ, defined by a specific figure, is regarded as the way of measuring someone’s intelligence. This indicative and reductive measurement is by now outdated and, according to us, it is not enough to define someone’s various types of intelligence.

Intelligence is the ability to ask questions when facing a situation, solve problems and implement solutions. It is also the ability to acquire new knowledge, analyze it, put it into perspective and pass it on.

Research on intelligence has been carried out in different fields, such as psychometrics, cognitive physiology, the neurosciences, cognitive psychology and anthropology. Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence [STE 89] includes the following three fields: the inner world, experience and outer world of an individual. According to the author, intelligence is linked to the interactions between these three fields. Therefore, measuring intelligence is a multifactorial process that depends on cultural and geographic factors.

The different types of intelligence are based on cognitive abilities such as reflection, knowledge, understanding, analysis, assessment, application and synthesis. Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences has evolved over time [GAR 83, GAR 99] and current models are now developing the following types of intelligence: logical and mathematical, verbal and linguistic, musical, visual and spatial, kinesthetic, intrapersonal, existential, interpersonal, spiritual, naturalistic, original and intuitive. We can then define as follows:

• – Logical and mathematical intelligence: this type of intelligence involves numbers, geometry and calculations that require abstraction. This is the ability to think accurately, calculate and reason logically.
• – Verbal and linguistic intelligence: this ability involves sensitivity to linguistic forms, words and languages.
• – Musical intelligence: this is the relationship with music, rhythms, melodies, harmony and symphony. This ability involves sensitivity to types of music and the perception of the emotions produced by music.
• – Visual and spatial intelligence: is defined as the ability to get one’s bearings in space, visualize and represent ideas, perceive and observe the visible world accurately and find one’s place in it.

• – Kinesthetic intelligence: is a practical type of intelligence that involves implementing and using one’s hands. This is the ability to express oneself spatially through one’s body.
• – Intrapersonal intelligence: is defined as our relationship with our “inner selves”. It is the ability to be aware of oneself and open to subtle and inner things.
• – Existential intelligence: this is defined as the ability to find meaning in one’s life, job and contribution.
• – Spiritual intelligence: is defined as the relationship with the invisible and metaphysics. It is the ability to open up to the traditions of the world, to symbols and to ancient texts.
• – Interpersonal intelligence: this is defined as the ability to establish relations, to understand and perceive others. This ability involves creating links and bringing a network to life.
• – Naturalistic intelligence: this ability involves sensitivity to nature and the plant world as well as a skill commonly referred to as “having a green thumb”.
• – Original intelligence: this type of intelligence involves being oneself with one’s differences and uniqueness. This is the ability to accept who we are and understand what our heart tells us to do.
• – Intuitive intelligence: This is the perceptive intelligence involved in the process of intuition. It is the ability to find intuitive links between fields which seem unrelated.

The other types of intelligence noted in the literature include “membrane” intelligence, economic intelligence, strategic intelligence and innovation intelligence.

However, despite being multifaceted, these types of intelligence are frequently reduced in the school system to a few simple aspects. Let us point out that for managers it will be important to develop the interpersonal, intrapersonal and intuitive types of intelligence.

6.1.4. Insouciance

Insouciance is fundamental for an innovator, as it opens the field of possibilities without prior knowledge or prejudices. Insouciance shifts, reroutes and diverts an innovator’s attention by leading them to approaches that are neither evident nor logical. Often attributed to children, insouciance makes our mind somewhat lighter, our ideas fresher and it gives us a feeling of wonderment at the magic of life.

It is the passage from insouciance to organization that leads to new ideas, as the stage of disordered insouciance is clearly a necessary step for the establishment of order later on. Insouciance and a spark of madness are at the root of the emergence of ideas. An innovative team should mark out space for insouciance so that innovators can give free rein to this quality.

6.1.5. Intuition

Intuition naturally plays a fundamental role for innovators. Because of intuition, innovators can find new research avenues, for example, through serendipity. Besides, intuition can make it easier to validate choices that could not be explained logically.

Intuition as the fifth “I” is undoubtedly the subtlest of the seven “I’s”. This is why we dedicate this book to its analysis. Cholle defined intuitive intelligence as the “ability to establish a collaboration between reason and instinct, which work on two different levels of consciousness” [CHO 07].

6.1.6. Illusions

Illusions may be optical or “magical”. Optical illusions are based in part on the knowledge of how our sight works and specifically on the differences in how vertical and horizontal shapes are processed. On the other hand, these illusions derive from the principle of “least incoherence” of the brain, which will systematically look for the least incoherence in an incoherent image. Thus, the brain will shift fixed elements in a drawing. Illusionists or “magicians” create magic tricks with multiple effects based on illusions or sleight of hand, and by diverting the attention. Some even protect their tricks with patents so as to avoid being copied, like Goldin [GOL 23], Gaughan [GAU 94], Geller [GEL 98] and Copperfield [COP 16].

Let us consider the notion of illusion in the sense that everything is possible. Having illusions means not being part of reality. This is what amplifies an individual’s innovative abilities. Naturally, coming back to tangible reality will reduce the number of possible ideas, but wandering among illusions has the advantage of making a group think in original ways while trying to find an explanation rationally.

If the magical character of insouciance may seem naïve, let us point out that magic and illusions sometimes precede science.

6.1.7. The invisible

Let us focus on the idea of invisibility as related to sight: everything that cannot be seen falls merely outside the light spectrum. This is the invisible, or what the human eye cannot see, in the sense of anything that cannot be seen and yet exists. The light spectrum that the human eye can see ranges from the infrared to the ultraviolet. Outside these boundaries, electromagnetic waves exist but cannot be seen by human eyes, which act as a biological filter. For example, watch the video “Magnetic field exposed”², in which invisible magnetic fields can be seen, allowing us to then consider the idea that even an invisible phenomenon can exist in reality.

The seven-“I’s” model is a virtuous model that innovators have to improve, develop and enhance both individually and collectively.

6.3.1. Intuition Journal⁴

This application can improve intuition by keeping a diary that allows us to take notes, tag or take pictures: intuitions, ideas, emotional moments, synchronicities, coincidences, dreams, etc. This application provides a series of exercises aimed at improving intuition.

The Intuition Journal promises to strengthen intuition so that we can:

• – take better decisions;
• – take up challenges more effectively;

• – improve creativity;
• – find creative solutions;
• – reduce anxiety and stress, as well as improve well-being.

Finally, the application offers a series of exercises aimed at improving intuition.

6.3.2. INTU⁵: Intuition Trainer

The INTU application is based on the conscious and subconscious aspects of our mind. It promises to develop intuition through regular training and practice of simple techniques that should be practiced for 10–15 minutes a day.

6.3.3. Psychic Power Hypnosis and Meditation⁶

This application is supposed to use the subconscious in order to awaken intuition. Positive, subliminal and suggestive inferences are offered to increase concentration and intuition. This application suggests a method that is a type of self-hypnosis.

6.3.4. Intuition Decision Maker⁷

This application offers an exercise aimed at training intuition based randomly on images which a user, according to his preferences, can “intuitively” choose by answering yes or no. This is an entertaining game that leads us to take decisions more rapidly.

6.3.5. My 108⁸

This application makes its users more intuitive and luckier because of the tests it offers. Through daily practice, the users will be able to see their chance scores ranked statistically and compared to those of the other users in the community. Videos, conferences and articles are also offered to improve concentration, relaxation and intuition.

6.3.6. Intuition Trainer 6 Sense⁹

This application encourages intuition and helps the user make good decisions in every type of circumstance. The training exercises that involve colors make it easier to choose, but they also allow us to trust the inner voice of intuition, and therefore to learn and sense.

6.3.7. Intuition Guidances¹⁰

This application offers a box that contains hundreds of ideas that are searched randomly to give the user some help with their intuition. The application is based on the principle that “the first idea is the good one” and that intuition naturally determines which idea is chosen. Intuition will have been effectively developed when the ideas of the application no longer turn out to be useful.

In this chapter, we have developed the “seven-I’s” model – inspiration, imagination, intelligence, insouciance, intuition, illusion and the invisible – of innovative individuals. We have then described the innovative methods that resort to intuition. Finally, we have ended by presenting a selection of innovative applications that offer training aimed at developing intuition. In Chapter 7, we will conclude by focusing on the role of intuition in management, especially in decision making.

Finally, besides these applications, we mention a number of communities on professional social networks such as LinkedIn that favor exchanges and sharing about practices and reflections related to innovation.

We mention the most significant groups: Horizon 2020¹¹, Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (around 200,000 members), Innovation Management Group¹², Front End of Innovation¹³ and Innovation¹⁴ (all around 50,000 members), and European Entrepreneurship & Innovation @ Silicon Valley¹⁵ (around 23,000 members).

On the other hand, innovation groups on LinkedIn can be marginal, with other significant ones including no more than 2,000 members. Many of these groups employ the notion of intuition as a marketing argument and therefore hardly demonstrate an authentic reflection on intuition.