Trust is consistently seen as a make or break component of innovation - particularly because the freedom to fail is an important part of innovation.

There are highly innovative companies in the U.S., Germany, and India. And there are many stories of companies that failed to innovate in all those countries. This is good news because it means, regardless of your cultural background or where your company is based, it can become innovative.

Given the increasing diversity among customers and employees, organizations that attend to cultural intelligence are more successful.

Minimization is what happens when we take the "world is flat" idea too far...and act as if people everywhere are the same (and thereby minimizing the differences).

Becoming a culturally intelligent innovators starts with something as basic as exercising self-control.

When you start paying attention to diversity, you notice it (and notice its absence!). And based on the culture of your upbringing and the culture of your organization, you may or may not be primed to think consciously about innovation.

Nature is good for all of us. When we're exposed to trees and other natural settings - even within the city, it fosters creativity.