Need Innovators? Recruit Those Who See the Glass as Half Empty … and Leaking

Corporate employees can be classified into two categories. The majority of employees must be classified as “the glass is half full” people, who when they look at an existing process or product, they assume that everything is fine. However, a handful of employees can be classified as “the glass is half empty and leaking” people. These individuals are much more valuable because they are constantly looking for hidden problems and they automatically assume that, in our fast-changing world, most existing approaches will soon become obsolete. This “half-empty” group is critical because their behaviors continually drive innovation, which is essential if you want to dominate your industry by becoming a serial innovation firm.