InnovatorsDigest

Top 25 LinkedIn Innovation Groups Grow Rapidly to Over 70,000 Innovators

How can you find and collaborate with more innovative people? Social network communities are increasingly popular. A recent search on LinkedIn revealed over 220 "innovators" groups and more than 1,300 "innovation" groups. LinkedIn members can belong to up to 50 groups, but it can be challenging to pick the right ones. The Innovation People group is one of the fastest growing LinkedIn groups. The Marketing & PR Innovators group has over 31,000 members, and the Green & Sustainability Innovators group has over 6,000 members. The newest group of Government & Political Innovators should be very popular.

View a list of Innovator's Digest's Top 25 Innovation Groups clicking HERE. Simply click on the link for each group to get more details and request to join. If your membership is approved, your LinkedIn profile will display the unique icon for the group.

Affiliate-to-Innovate: 60,000 LinkedIn Innovators in Groups Can Use NEW Discussion Forums

 LinkedIn just released a valuable new feature that allows Group members to engage in discussions about innovation, creativity and other interesting topics. Articles from Innovator's Digest will be linked to some provocative questions in Group Discussion areas. 
Get ThinkedIn by joining in our innovation conversations via the LinkedIn Groups that now include over 60,000 innovative minds.

Click Below to Join Our Top 24 LinkedIn
Innovation Groups & Join the Discussions!

1. InnovationPeople Network Group
2. Marketing, PR, Word of Mouth & Buzz Innovators Group
3. Green & Sustainability Innovators Group
4. Sales & Selling Innovators Group
5. New Product & Service Innovators Group
6. Meeting & Event Design Professionals Group
7. Experience Economy "Pine & Gilmore" Innovators Group
8. Fundraising & Philanthropic Innovators Group
9. Learning & Education Innovators Group
10. HealthCare, Medical, Pharma & Biotech Group
11. Brand Innovators & Branding Leadership Group
12. Technology & Mobility Innovators Group
13. Communication Innovators Group
14. Innovation Idols Group
15. Futurists & Anticipatory Scientists Group
16. TRIZ Innovation Tool Group
17. Portfolio Magazine's ThinkTank Panelist Group
18. Leadership & Change Management Innovators Group
19. Chicagovators Group of Chicagoland Innovation Leaders
20. SolutionPeople Innovators Group
21. Thinkubator Creative Meeting Environment Innovators
22. David Allen's "Getting Things Done" Group
23. illumination.com Innovators Group
24. InnovatorsDigest.com Innovation Network

Do you want your free subscription to Innovator'sDigest? Click HERE to subscribe and receive innovation news that includes questions used for LinkedIn Innovation Group Discussions.

Telecommuters Have New Stimulus for Creativity

Telecommuting is quickly growing as companies struggle with real estate costs, space needs, attracting & retaining talent, and contributing to the "green" movement. Many employees welcome this flexible work option but wonder how their creativity will be affected without other employees to brainstorm with or bounce ideas off of.

Creativity? What's a telecommuter to do? Find new and interesting ways to be creative and innovative. Being in a location other than the traditional workplace, such as one's home or in the park or even in an airport, can offer a host of creative stimulus. Look around. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel? What do you think? Utilize these impressions and thoughts to stimulate new thinking around a goal, challenge of problem you have at hand.

For example, if you're at home, take out Solutionman's KnowBrainer tool, go to a window and think about Card 50, "If the sky is the limit, what might be possible?" This blue sky thinking can yield great results! Or how about Card 56, "What ideas might be borrowed from movies, television, radio, music, books or the Internet?" Your home will most likely allow you better access to movies, television and music than the traditional workplace. Imagine the possibilities.

There are other techniques you can use to leverage others virtually as well. We'll discuss that in another edition, so stay tuned. For more on telecommuting, visit http://managingtelecommuters.com

Favorite Thinkubator Experiences: Karaoke-ate, Oxygenate, & DISCOvate to Innovate

"If you want to think outside of the box, you should not put brains in a box," states SolutionPeople's Gerald Haman, who first created their Chicago innovation center in 1992. Since then, over 10,000 people have experienced the "unbox-like" Thinkubator in Chicago's west loop. Guests are encouraged to share feedback and rate their favorite resources.

Here are 8 of people's most memorable Thinkubator experiences:
1. Oxygenate-to-Invigorate: Relaxing while breathing pure oxygen at the Oxygen Bar
2. Karaoke-ate-to-Collaborate: Singing from a collection of thousands of Karaoke tunes
3. DISCOvate-to-Celebrate: Celebrating results while dancing with real the Disco lights turned on
4. Blue Sky Brainstorming while inspired by the Thinkubator's skyline views and rooftop decks
5. Exploring the Albert Einstein and John Travolta-themed areas
6. Sitting on the thought-provoking furniture and art from world-famous designers
7. Playing with the creative brain games and gadgets
8. Tasting the fine cuisine from the award-winning restaurants within walking distance of the Thinkubator
Use these links to take a virtual Thinkubator
Tour and review partial list of Thinkubator Resources.
If you want to learn how to design your own innovation center or creative space, enroll in a Decorate-to-Innovate webinar or schedule a team planning facilitation at the Thinkubator.