Aidan O'Dea

Working in strategic innovation.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

Most people don’t know how to innovate.

The advice to ‘think creatively’ or ‘brainstorm ideas’ skips over the real mechanics of innovation. Innovation isn’t magic. It’s a skill.

Here’s how:
1. Understand how you think (meta-cognition).

2.Learn new ways to think (mental models).

3.Practice expressing those thoughts clearly (visually or verbally).

Innovation is a process, not a flash of inspiration.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@Fandiverty123 @clubber We were trying to watch the Charleville Midleton hurling match. Stopped, skipped and paused every 15 seconds. Shocking service for the money. @clubber @clubber_tv

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@clubber, I’m getting constant freezing/skipping on the @CHARLEVILLEGAA vs @MidletonGaa match. My connection is 150mbps fibre broadband so that’s not the issue. Can you take a look or advise?

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

A friend prompted me to reflect on what I’d say to myself at the start of my career:

- no one is responsible for your career but you.
- sit down and reflect on your job and career once a month.
- if things aren’t going well in work analyse it through 4 lenses— is it that you work for a shit company or a shit boss? Is your job shit or is your career shit?
- you don’t owe anyone in work anything except a good honest attempt.
- work doesn’t owe you anything except your salary.
- know when to leave.
- recognise when you’ve stopped growing.
- always think how you can tell the story of the project you’re working on and the specific value you brought to it.
- always know your value on the open market.
- your work friends don’t have to be your actual friends.
- understand your energy and impact on your colleagues.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

A simple, clear message is more effective than one overloaded with detail.

Focus on what matters.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

Networking is key to career growth.

But without sharp thinking and clear communication, connections won’t take you far.

Skills scale better than handshakes.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

You’re not just ‘working.’ You’re building the skills that shape your future.

Clear thinking and effective communication are foundations you can practice daily— skills that compound into long-term success.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

Feedback is a mirror—it shows us our strengths and guides our growth.

Over 18 months ago, I was told my logical approach and confidence in navigating ambiguity stood out. That feedback gave me clarity about my strengths and motivated me to build on them.

Listening to feedback isn’t just about validation— it’s about learning, refining and aiming higher.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

I noticed my friend in work is great on calls. Whether it’s client introductory calls, project update calls, sales calls, presentation calls— any sort of calls.

I asked him how he got so consistently great at them. He told me “sign-posting”. However he meant for both himself before the call began, and for the audience during the call.

He continued “simple little sign-posts: here’s where this project started, here’s where we are now, here’s why we need your input.” Or “this is who we are, this is what we’ve done before, here’s what we might do for you.”

Simple sign-posts to help navigate sometime ambiguous calls.

[defuseDublin @defuseDublin]

Aidan O'Dea is our next speaker this evening! #defuseDublin #intelligentdesign

[defuseDublin @defuseDublin]

Explore how today's designers can learn from the Bauhaus to address our era's challenges with @aidanodea at Defuse - Design for Use | Wed, 29 Nov in @sugarclubdublin
More details at https://t.co/f5mHVrHsqc #defusedublin #IntelligentDesign

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@A2Architects @UL Fantastic Peter! Great news!

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@Culture_Crit It’s not architects fault. The proliferation of middle management in bureaucracies whose prime focus is risk mitigation, cost cutting and compliance means spaces like this would get managed out of realisation. Architects dream of building spaces like those.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@Shane___Martin Similar to the evolving field of parametricism in the field of design and architecture. What parameters are you using and which ones are you prioritising.

Values are embedded in decisions.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@BurchertMichael Have you any examples in Irish or British contexts? I’d imagine the damp weather could have an impact on straw bale construction? Thanks!

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@BurchertMichael @A2Architects similar to a 2nd year project i l’m recalling 😅

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@aaditsh I believe in the pareto principle here, in a slightly modified form. 80% of people could learn 80% of anything and achieve 80% success in that chosen field.

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@FitFounder Permissionless Apprentice by @visualizevalue and @jackbutcher

why?

1- self serve
2- no noise, all signal
3- six useful case studies/examples

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@ItsKieranDrew Products… products… products! (Build once, sell twice @jackbutcher)

[Aidan O'Dea @aidanodea]

@swardley @AlastairParvin As I’m still getting the hang of being more public on this platform, I worried my initial question may have come across not how I intended! I’m glad it didn’t come across as such.