"We often associate a new invention with a single creator. However….”

Who said it? "We often associate a new invention with a single creator. However, that's an oversimplification of how innovation operates. Even the most creative people don't work in a vacuum. They're always influenced by the tools, technologies, ideas, people and structures that surround them. This often means multiple forces contribute to an innovation, even when one person takes the credit."

Matt Ridley wrote this in his 2020 book "How Innovation Works," where he examines innovation as a bottom-up, gradual and evolutionary process rather than the result of singular breakthrough moments. Ridley, a journalist and businessman with degrees from University of Oxford, draws on countless historical examples to illustrate how innovation truly flourishes.

The myth of the lone genius has dominated our innovation narratives for centuries, yet Ridley brilliantly articulates what history consistently shows us: breakthrough innovation is inherently collaborative and contextual.

This perspective challenges us to reconsider how we approach innovation in our organisations. Rather than seeking singular visionaries, should we instead focus on creating environments where ideas can collide, combine and evolve? And how might this shift our approach to recognising and rewarding contributions in our innovation ecosystems?