Diego’s post reminded me of my conversation with Marsha Skidmore from Herman Miller for Spark. We discussed the tools it takes to maximize innovation resources. Here is a list of things to thing about:
Focus on Behavior Versus Feedback – Are you listening to your customers and really watching their behavior? I never would have told a designer I needed a mesh chair to keep cool. However, I love sitting in my incredibly comfortable Aeron chair. Your customers can give you a deeply personal understanding of their needs.
Make Innovation Iterative – Instead of trying to solve a big, hairy problem all at once, think about making innovation more iterative. Get prototypes ready and then co-create with customers to dial in the details.
Design Optimal Conditions for Innovation – Being innovative means thinking about the right conditions for innovation. Marsha and her team took on a project that was a big change from office furniture. It meant working with a new kind of customer – general contractors, rather than end-users – to more efficiently distribute power. Every customer and culture is different. How can you set the conditions for your team to be more innovative?
Keep the Momentum Going – If you’re like me and drink too much coffee, your energy might wane during the day as the caffeine wears off. The same thing happens in an innovation. Find a leader or team member who contributes positive energy and direction to keep the momentum and motivation strong.
Focus on Solving the Problem – Sometimes it’s hard to strip away the baggage a company or team brings to an innovation problem. Many times, successful companies have a difficult time staying focused on an innovation problem simply because they’re successful. Forget about past success and stay focused on the problem at hand, not just the solution.
Accept Resentment – Being on an innovation team that’s separate from the rest of the company and has a more creative mandate means you’re working on something new and fun. Eventually the novelty will wear off, but it’s a reality that some people in the company will be jealous of your apparent newfound freedom. They will learn to deal with it, and so should you.
Encourage Contribution – Involve other people in your quest for innovation by asking them to contribute. There may be someone in another department who shares a passion for your project and could contribute positively to your team. Develop a spirit of contribution so that everyone in the company feels vested in the evolution of innovation.
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