{"id":193,"date":"2011-05-26T02:02:14","date_gmt":"2011-05-26T06:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/facilitativeleadership.wordpress.com\/?p=193"},"modified":"2026-05-01T15:37:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T19:37:31","slug":"da-vincis-traits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/da-vincis-traits\/","title":{"rendered":"da Vinci\u2019s Innovation Traits: Still Relevant, Still Compelling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leonardo da Vinci identified seven key traits or skills that one can cultivate to enhance intelligence and unlock the potential for genius.<\/h2>\n

Even after mastering these traits, one must overcome the fear of failure, which often prevents people from taking the first step. Likewise, da Vinci\u2019s traits strongly align with the qualities of a facilitative leader, guiding others toward creativity and growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Therefore, da Vinci\u2019s traits or skills or strengths include:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Curiosita<\/em>\u2014an insatiable thirst for knowledge<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Dimostrzione<\/em>\u2014the ability to learn from experience<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Sensazione<\/em>\u2014the discipline of continuing to hone one’s senses<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Sfumato<\/em>\u2014the ability to cope with ambiguity<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Arte\/ Scienza<\/em>\u2014holistic thinking<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Corporalita<\/em>\u2014what some people call sound mind and body<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Connessione<\/em>\u2014the ability to see deeply into the connection between things<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    More can be found in the book entitled “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day” by Michael J. Gelb<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

    Walter Isaacson<\/h3>\n

    Subsequent to the original posting of this article, Walter Isaacson published a comprehensive and compelling biography, <\/span>Leonardo da Vinci<\/a>, <\/span><\/em>that deserves a much higher ranking in a Google search. While nearly 600 pages in length, the well-researched and documented history of the polymath would provide an excellent return on your time and money. Isaacson identifies twenty Key Learnings. For more detail, you should turn to the original source. They include:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Avoid silos.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Be curious, relentlessly curious.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Be open to mystery.<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Collaborate.<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Create for yourself, not just for patrons.<\/span><\/li>\n
    6. Get distracted.<\/span><\/li>\n
    7. Go down rabbit holes.<\/span><\/li>\n
    8. Indulge fantasy.<\/span><\/li>\n
    9. Let the perfect be the enemy of the good.<\/span><\/li>\n
    10. Let your reach exceed your grasp.<\/span><\/li>\n
    11. Make lists.*<\/span><\/li>\n
    12. Observe.<\/span><\/li>\n
    13. Procrastinate.<\/span><\/li>\n
    14. Respect facts.<\/span><\/li>\n
    15. Retain a childlike sense of wonder.<\/span><\/li>\n
    16. See things unseen.<\/span><\/li>\n
    17. Seek knowledge for its own sake.<\/span><\/li>\n
    18. Start with the details.<\/span><\/li>\n
    19. Take notes, on paper.<\/span><\/li>\n
    20. Think visually.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n