If your team isn’t saying “WTF?” at least once a week, you’re doing innovation wrong (actually, you are not innovating). Here’s why pushing boundaries and ruffling feathers is the only way to grow truly.

Intro To WTF World Of Innovation

Innovation—the golden child of business buzzwords (positioned firmly behind “CHANGE” on the list). Everyone loves to talk about it, but when it comes to actually doing it, most of us are about as innovative as a fax machine in 2024 (I am not sure if this is a confidence issue or simply a know-how issue. You can’t do what you don’t know). 

So, let’s get real for a second. If your team isn’t regularly blinking at you in stunned disbelief, muttering “WTF?” under their breath, then congratulations! You’ve officially joined the ranks of the comfortably complacent.

From Idea to Business Growth – Business Coach Parramatta

Let’s be blunt: true innovation isn’t supposed to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside. It’s supposed to challenge, provoke, and occasionally even terrify. That’s where the magic happens. And if your ideas aren’t causing at least a few double-takes and eyebrow raises, you’re not thinking big enough. Welcome to the WTF Rate—the secret sauce of real, impactful innovation.

What Exactly is the WTF Rate?

Let’s break it down. The “WTF Rate” is precisely what it sounds like a measure of how often your ideas make your team—or anyone within earshot—pause, squint at you like you’ve lost your mind, and say, “WTF?” If this isn’t happening at least once a week, you’re playing it too safe. And if you’re playing it safe, you’re not innovating—you’re just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

“A week without a ‘WTF?’ moment is a week wasted. Mediocrity loves silence, but innovation demands noise.”

Now, I can already hear the collective gasp. “But we’re a serious business! We can’t go around shocking people!” Well, well, well – newsflash: if your idea of innovation is limited to minor tweaks and safe bets, your business is on the fast track to irrelevance. The WTF Rate isn’t just about shocking for shock’s sake—it’s about pushing boundaries, thinking beyond the obvious, and daring to venture into uncharted territory. Growth happens on the opposing side of comfort and safety.

Why a High WTF Rate is Essential

Let’s get one thing straight: innovation is messy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s not supposed to fit neatly into your pre-existing structures and processes. If it did, it wouldn’t be innovation—it would be maintenance. A high WTF Rate is a clear indicator that you’re doing something right. It means you’re pushing the envelope, challenging the status quo, and forcing your team to think bigger, bolder, and better.

Think of the WTF Rate as your innovation pulse check. If your team isn’t scratching their heads or nervously laughing at your latest idea, you’re not pushing hard enough. And here’s the kicker—those moments of confusion, disbelief, and even discomfort are where breakthroughs happen. 

“Ideas that don’t rattle a few cages? That’s called ‘compliance,’ not ‘progress.'”

When your team is forced to grapple with something they don’t immediately understand, that’s when real creative thinking kicks in. It’s not about the immediate “how”—it’s about the eventual “wow.”

Comfort Zones Are for Couches, Not Innovators

Let’s talk about comfort zones for a second. They’re lovely, aren’t they? Warm, safe, predictable. And utterly useless if you’re serious about innovation. The truth is, nothing new ever came out of a comfort zone. If your ideas aren’t pushing your team beyond what they know, you’re not innovating—you’re just coasting (i don’t want to say it, but you are wasting resources too). 

Fostering Business Growth & Innovation – Business Coach Sydney, Parramatta

Imagine you’re on a road trip. The comfort zone is like that well-worn route you’ve driven a thousand times. Sure, it’s familiar, but it’s also boring as hell. The WTF Rate, on the other hand, is like taking a detour down a road you’ve never explored before. Sure, it might be a little bumpy, and yes, you might get lost. But you’re also going to discover things you never knew existed.

“Think big enough to make them laugh nervously, then bigger –  until they start Googling ‘career change options’—that’s innovation.”

So, here’s the hard truth: if you’re not willing to get uncomfortable, you won’t innovate. It’s that simple. A high WTF Rate is a sign that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone and into the realm of true creativity and growth.

The Sweet Spot: Balancing WTF and Feasibility

Now, let’s not get carried away. Just because your team’s jaws are on the floor doesn’t mean you’re automatically on the path to the next big thing. The WTF Rate is crucial, but it needs to be balanced with a sense of feasibility. In other words, your ideas should make your team say “WTF?” but not “WTF are you even talking about?”

Here’s the deal: innovation lives at the intersection of the impossible and the practical. Your ideas should stretch the imagination, but they also need to be grounded in some kind of reality. The best ideas are the ones that initially seem outlandish but, upon closer inspection, are just crazy enough to work.

Think of it like this: your WTF Rate should be high enough to provoke but not so high that it paralyzes. It’s about finding that sweet spot where your team is challenged to think differently but not so overwhelmed that they can’t see a path forward.

How to Raise Your WTF Rate (Without Losing Your Mind)

So, how do you actually raise your WTF Rate? How do you start thinking bigger, bolder, and more creatively without completely losing your mind (or your team’s)?

1. Question Everything: If you want to raise your WTF Rate, start by questioning everything. Yes, everything. Why do you do things the way you do? Is there a better way? A faster way? A completely different way? Don’t just accept things as they are—challenge them (more importantly, once you find better options and choices, Do Something Spectacular – or close to it). 
2. Encourage Wild Ideas: Create an environment where wild, crazy, and, yes, even stupid ideas are encouraged. Let your team know that it’s okay—no, it’s essential—to think outside the box. And when those WTF moments happen, embrace them. They’re a sign that you’re on the right track.
3. Don’t Settle for “Good Enough”: If your team is too comfortable, you’re not pushing hard enough. Never settle for “good enough.” Push for more, for better, for different. The moment you start thinking, “This is fine,” is the moment you need to start pushing harder. Good enough is for rookies; you are not playing it to be the 57th-best provider in town. You must constantly improve, work on your craftsmanship and occasionally reinvent yourself. I bet no one has told you this before. 
4. Fail Forward: Not every WTF idea is going to be a winner, and that’s okay. Failure is a natural part of the innovation process. The key is to fail forward—learn from your mistakes, adjust your approach, and keep pushing the boundaries. Remember, every failure is a step closer to success.
5. Celebrate the WTF Moments: Finally, celebrate those WTF moments. They’re not a sign of failure—they’re a sign of growth, pushing boundaries, and daring to be different. Make sure your team knows that those moments are valued, appreciated, and encouraged. Don’t go crazy; it may go in the opposite direction.

Innovation Mindset

The Danger of a Low WTF Rate

Now, let’s flip the script. What happens if your WTF Rate is low? What if your team never raises an eyebrow, never pauses to question, never feels a flicker of uncertainty? Congratulations—you’re officially stuck in the mud.

A low WTF Rate is a clear sign that you’re not innovating. You’re maintaining. You’re playing it safe. And in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing business landscape, that’s a one-way ticket to obsolescence. A low WTF Rate means you’re not challenging your team, not pushing the boundaries, and not thinking big enough. And that’s a problem—a big one.

“The secret to a thriving business: enough WTF ideas to make HR nervous, but not enough to trigger a lawsuit.”

Put it bluntly: if your team isn’t occasionally baffled by your ideas, you’re not leading them anywhere new. You’re just managing what already exists. And in a world where innovation is the key to survival, that’s not going to cut it. Your best people will leave your sinking ship; your future will be decided (you won’t like the outcome), and eventually, your business will not matter… Don’t need to be a guru to come up with this.

Why the WTF Rate Drives Growth

At the end of the day, the WTF Rate isn’t just about coming up with crazy ideas for the sake of it. It’s about driving growth. It’s about pushing your business to think bigger, to aim higher, and to explore new possibilities.

When your team is regularly confronted with ideas that challenge their thinking, they’re forced to grow. They have to stretch their minds, consider new perspectives, and think creatively about how to turn those WTF ideas into reality. And that’s where real innovation happens.

Growth doesn’t come from doing the same things over and over. It comes from pushing the boundaries, from daring to think differently, from challenging the status quo. And the WTF Rate is a powerful tool for making that happen.

Conclusion: Embrace the WTF Rate (because it mater)

So, where does this leave you? Hopefully, questioning your current approach to innovation. If your WTF Rate is low, it’s time to shake things up. Start challenging yourself and your team to think bigger, bolder, and more creatively. Don’t settle for “good enough”—push for greatness.

Remember, a high WTF Rate isn’t a sign that you’re crazy—it’s a sign that you’re daring to be different, to innovate, to grow. And in a world where standing still is the same as falling behind, that’s exactly where you need to be.

So, go ahead and embrace the WTF Rate. Push boundaries, challenge norms, and start making your team wonder what the hell you’re going to come up with next. Because that, my friend, is where the real magic happens.

Call to Action (it’s not a conclusion because we are just starting): Start Tracking Your WTF Rate Today

Don’t just read about it—do something about it. Start tracking your WTF Rate today. Challenge yourself to come up with at least one idea every week that makes your team pause and say, “WTF?” And then watch as your business starts to think bigger, act bolder, and grow faster than ever before.

It’s time to stop playing it safe. It’s time to start innovating. And it all starts with a simple question: “WTF?”