Six Simple Insights to Become a Better Innovator

Innovation is a paradox for most of us. On the one hand you are well aware that you have to take new roads before you reach the end of the present dead end street. On the other hand it is risky. It takes a lot of time. And it takes a lot of resources. Research shows that only one out of seven innovation projects is successful. Therefore it's so hard to get company support for your ideas.

I like to share with you six simple concepts from my practice as innovation facilitator that enable you to become a better innovator at the front end of innovation.

1. Most people only innovate when they have to. Pick the right moment.

As innovator, one of your most important roles is to build awareness that your company needs to innovate. It all starts with accepting that it is normal that your top managers fear innovation. They will only change their conservative views if they get fresh new insights. So a very effective strategy for you is to provide your managers and board with all kinds of signals they your market is changing rapidly: new technology, changing customer preferences, new competitors, changing legislations et cetera. Keep confronting them until the urgency to innovate will be understood and is top-of-mind.

2. You can't innovate your organization alone.

You can invent on your own. But in an organization you can never innovate alone. You need an awful lot of colleagues and bosses to transform ideas into invoices for new products or services. You need R&D engineers, production managers, IT staff, financial controllers, marketers, service people and salesmen to develop the product, produce it, get it on the market and service it. Therefore effective innovation is a team effort from start to finish lead by a passionate innovation champion. You can't innovate your organization alone.

3. Think innovative - act conservative.

Your organization is less innovative than you are. That's why you have a game-changing role. Your effectiveness will be dependent on the internal support you can create among the non-innovators. That's why it's wise to be innovative and act conservative. Present your innovative breakthroughs not as something really extraordinary (and risky) but as the normal next thing to do. Your chances to convince the non-innovators will increase dramatically.

4. The voice of the customer is your best friend.

Once you've developed an innovative idea or prototype the question remains: is this a good idea or not? In your organization are a lot of persons resisting change. They will say no to anything. In my role as marketer in the food industry I learned to make use of the voice of the customer to get internal support. So test your ideas and prototypes in an early stage at customers. And use the favorable test results and enthusiast testimonials to get internal support.

5. Bring back new business not new ideas.

It's great when you have an attractive idea, but this is only the first step. Top management is looking for growth and new business. That's why you get a lot more company support if you bring back new business instead of new ideas. I've made a practical format for what I call a mini new business case, which might be handy. The purpose is to substantiate, in a businesslike and convincing manner, to what degree and for what reason your idea for a new product, service or business model is attractive and feasible for your organization. You can download the format of the mini new business case.

6. InNOvation: No is only the beginning.

As an innovator you are mostly working in a conservative company. Of course they'll say no to your innovation. What would you do if someone came up to you out of the blue, saying you have to do the things you do totally differently? Or do totally different things. Innovation is always provocative by definition. So when they say "no" to innovation, don't take it personally. It is not the end of the battle. It's only the beginning!

I like innovation because it's so damned difficult. Remember: real innovators never give up.

----

To read more from Gijs on LinkedIn, please click the FOLLOW button above or below.

If you like this article; you will like:

How to Structure the Chaotic Start of Innovation?

Companies Frustrate Innovative Employees

Five Key Questions to Break Old Patterns

Gijs van Wulfen recently published : "The Innovation Expedition" You can order it at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk. Photo: Riza Nugara/Flickr.

Wan Zarifah Hassan

Lecturer at University College of Yayasan Pahang

9y

Agreed when you say innovation is totally difficult and hard to hold. Only the real innovators can handle this because they never give up. Thank you for a great article and I'll keep in practical.

Like
Reply
Ram S Shukla

🚀 I help businesses to Grow 💥10X Revenue in ‎️🔥 180 Days with Digital Marketing and Website Services. 👉Book A Free Strategy Call.

9y

Good and useful tips. Like it and really it an amazing life changing tips to be a good innovator. Thanks for writing good stuff.

Like
Reply
Victoria Nozdrevatykh

Автоматизация производства под ключ/электромонтажные работы. Менеджер по развитию. vn@av-automatics.ru (812) 331-96-35

10y

Good tips!

Ricardo Faria Oliveira

Consultant of Industrial Profitability  Business Corporate Performance Management  Process Optimization

10y

Good article. I like most from the "dealing with negative" comment. To innovate it is mandatory to persist.

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Explore topics