What is it that innovators can’t do without and that leaders need to provide for their ideas to take hold and flourish?
You know the old conversation starter, “If you were stuck on a desert island, what 3 things could you possibly not do without?” The answers I have received range from three good books, play station, skin moisturizer, soccer ball, pen and paper, Swiss Army Penknife, hat, sunglasses, yoyo, Rubik’s cube and so on.
This got me wondering about what innovators (or even intrapreneurs) could not do without in order for their ideas to take hold and flourish. So, I did a little research, had a few conversations and this is what emerged.
The experiences of Steve Sasson (the inventor of the digital camera) at Kodak showed that individuals in an organization cannot take a new and ground-breaking idea from birth to profitable product. Innovation must live in the DNA of the company. When I am asked to help innovation to flourish in organizations, I look to create a culture for innovation. I work with leaders to help them understand that innovation has to live in the culture, and the culture is largely defined by the leadership. Innovation has to be to an organizational-wide effort and must be supported across the organization by culture and systems and practices that encourage groundbreaking ideas and products. Innovation seldom flows freely. Organizations across the sectors need to have all systems working to create a mental space for innovation. That is, employees know they have permission and are supported by systems to challenge the status quo. If that does not occur, innovation will be stifled and the innovators will take their ideas elsewhere.
Here are principles for leaders to follow for innovation to flourish:
1. If the culture allows for it, identify your potential innovators. Give them opportunities to ideate, create, design, prototype, implement and even scale the new ideas keeping the innovation connected to the organization and not siloed.
2. Find the shepherds; someone who can act as a protector and guide the innovator through the political maze that exists in many organizations. Especially if the culture of the innovation defaults to the status quo and tends to squash new ideas. The shepherd opens financial doors too, being an advocate for the innovator allowing the latter to focus on developing the new idea and not expending too much energy on other matters.
3. Ensure a strong business/team partner. Times get tough especially when you are breaking new ground and you need a strong partner to lean on. The partner provides support, guidance, and feedback. They also offer another point of view encouraging you to see things in different ways.
4. Talk to your innovators about their role models. These range from the Steve Jobs and Elon Musk’s of the world to the small business owners who deliver great value to customers and build a strong brand. These people provide inspiration and lessons.
5. Build a sense of team around your innovators. They can be tricky people to work with, but we need them and they need a team. Team support of innovations can take down opposing forces (or use them to make the product/service even better) to make successful innovation stick. The sense of team can also mean empowering everyone with the ability to contribute towards significant change. Have conversations about innovators and innovation with your people. A cultural valuing of innovation, creativity, learning and quality helps to unite a team or business and provide a clear framework of ‘how things are done around here.’
6. Encourage love of the product. Many innovators speak about how they love what they do. Loving the customer meant being deeply aware of customer needs. After all, innovation happens where the customer is. Loving the product/services means really caring about the quality ensuring it is defect free and goes beyond the expectations of the customer. Part of love is patience which is required in the relentless pursuit of an optimal solution (there is seldom an ‘aha’ moment) to yield high-impact breakthrough.
7. Encourage and model a harmonious lifestyle. Pay attention to all the aspects of what makes us who we are; mental, physical, social/emotional and spiritual. Productivity and happiness increase when you feel healthy, aligned, stimulated and importantly playing to your strengths. Successful people take holidays, exercise and catch up with friends and family. This creates space for contemplation and mental ‘tinkering’. Making this an element of the culture is one step to creating a culture for innovation that all your people can be part of.
I know this list contains more than three things, and they may not help you survive on a desert island, but I wonder which of these exists in your team or company to give innovation and innovators a chance to thrive?
By Dr. Peter Dry, 2020
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