Leveraging innovation potential like an artist

Creativity, Leadership & Innovation
Improbable - an art-thinking method

As the influence of artificial intelligence grows and advances into more areas of business and leisure, human creativity and problem-solving skills are far from becoming obsolete. This is especially true for leaders as they navigate uncertain, fast-moving, and complex environments. 
With the art-thinking concept “Improbable”, Sylvain Bureau, Professor for Entrepreneurship at ESCP Business School Paris campus, has created a unique method to help businesses leverage potential for innovation and transformation. Taught with the help of artists such as Jörg Reckhenrich at ESCP Berlin campus, Improbable is an art-thinking concept that encourages leaders to embrace ambiguity, take creative risks, and explore challenges from multiple perspectives.

Leveraging innovation potential like an artist

“By engaging in more experimental, open-ended situations—much like an artist with a blank canvas—leaders can discover fresh, unexpected ideas that wouldn’t emerge through conventional methods”, Reckhenrich says.

During the workshops, he and Bureau guide teams through a creative journey where they establish a bold initial concept that critically addresses a chosen topic. Challenging assumptions, inviting feedback, and working through it together, the concept finally becomes an exhibition piece. 

“This approach allows participants to move beyond simply solving problems," shares Reckhenrich. "They are encouraged to deeply understand them, fostering innovation that draws on intuition, empathy, and adaptability. When it comes to leadership, art brings a deeply humanistic perspective to it, which is essential for personal development."

A way to lead authentically

In his experience, engaging with art helps leaders connect with their own emotions, values, and vulnerabilities—qualities that are foundational to leading authentically. As art encurages self-reflection, empathy, and seeing things from multiple perspectives, critical skills for understanding and motivating others are trained through this method. But it also cultivates creativity and adaptability.

"Just as artists approach a blank canvas with openness and curiosity, effective leaders approach challenges with a flexible mindset, ready to innovate and learn. This human-centered approach not only strengthens a leader’s sense of self but also fosters a culture of compassion, resilience, and growth within their teams", according to Reckhenrich.

Improbable goes beyond handling uncertainty

The Improbable method pushes participants to think outside the box, but also to address complex paradoxes, such as the Innovation-Sustainability or Profit-Purpose Paradox. These challenges require a mindset that balances seemingly opposing goals—creativity with responsibility, profitability with impact. 

Teaching teams to view uncertainty as a space for exploration, participants develop a strong, open-minded attitude —and tap into their potential to nurture human bonds. 

Following the mission to develop bold, creative and accountable leaders, ESCP incorporates Improbable in various Executive Education curricula, such as the Executive Master in Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership, as well as in Custom Solutions.

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