Unlocking the Power of Insights with Gary Klein | Insights and Innovation

Jan 14, 2026

Join cognitive psychologist Gary Klein, renowned for his book *Seeing What Others Don't*, as he unpacks the intriguing science of insights. He reveals two key triggers for breakthroughs: making connections and noticing anomalies. Klein discusses how organizations can stifle innovation by succumbing to perfectionism and predictability traps. Learn about his innovative concept of Insight Audits designed to foster a culture of discovery. With fascinating historical case studies from Napoleon to 9/11, this conversation is a treasure trove for unlocking organizational insight.

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INSIGHT

Down Arrow vs Up Arrow

Most organizations focus on reducing errors (the down arrow) and neglect generating breakthroughs (the up arrow).
Gary Klein collected 120 insight cases to study how insights actually arise, revealing themes beyond lab models.

INSIGHT

Connections And Anomalies Drive Insights

Two dominant triggers for insights are making connections and spotting anomalies that don't fit expectations.
Many insights emerge from chaining observations rather than a single sudden 'flash' moment.

INSIGHT

Incubation Model Is Incomplete

The classic four-stage incubation model explains fewer than 10% of real-world insights.
Lab paradigms miss the majority of practical insight cases because insights often form through chains of events.

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In this episode, we sit down with Gary Klein, author of Seeing What Others Don't, to explore the fascinating science behind insights and how organizations can foster smarter thinking and innovation. Klein dives deep into over 120 real-world stories he's collected—ranging from Daniel Boone to Napoleon—and explains the two powerful triggers behind most breakthroughs: connections and anomalies.

Discover how organizations often suppress insights, and why a focus on predictability and perfection can kill innovation. Learn about his new concept of Insight Audits and how leaders can shift their environments to better capture the power of spontaneous insight.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:27 Guest Introduction: Gary Klein 00:59 Collecting Stories of Success 02:19 The Down Arrow vs. The Up Arrow 04:43 Investigating Insights 05:38 Themes of Insight: Connections and Discrepancies 07:10 Historical Models of Insight 09:16 Organizational Barriers to Insight 11:17 The Perfection and Predictability Traps 15:06 Case Studies: Missed Discoveries 25:14 The Garden Path Phenomenon 32:30 Insight Audits in Organizations 36:48 Ideas That Escape: Case Studies and Suppression 37:27 The Battle of Midway: Intelligence and Strategy 41:38 The 1973 Yom Kippur War: Ignored Warnings 47:23 Napoleon's Tactical Genius at Toulon 50:58 Creative Desperation: The Mann Gulch Fire 58:42 Yellow Fever: The Mosquito Hypothesis 01:06:46 Daniel Boone: Abandoning the Project Plan 01:10:47 Conclusion and Resources Find Gary here: https://www.shadowboxtraining.com/our-team/people/gklein/ Find Seeing What Others Don't: The Remarkable Ways We Gain Insights here: https://amzn.to/4qNlekq

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Gary Klein, insight generation, organizational innovation, decision making, cognitive psychology, seeing what others don't, leadership, business strategy, Aidan McCullen, the innovation show