Category Archives: Innovation

7 ways to make it safe for others to innovate

in Innovation

how to unlock innovation

Great leaders make it safe for others to innovate. What stops innovation? Fear.

Fear of the unknown. Fear of public shame. Fear of failing. Fear of getting started. All these fears, in one way or another, get in our way. How do we make it safe for others to innovate? You let them try stuff and see what happens.

Here are 7 ways to make it safe for others to innovate:…

This is empathy: The best innovators live in their customers shoes

in Innovation

What is the most important innovation technique available to an innovation practitioner?

In my opinion, of all the innovation techniques available to an innovation practitioner, entrepreneur, marketer or business leader none is more important than getting out on the field and observing people in their domains.

That is what I wrote a few months back. Well guess what? I’m writing about it again, because it is that important. And it is not common to see someone take this principle to the extreme.…

To innovate, just try it!

in Innovation

to innovate just try it

“We can show mathematically that trial and error is 10 times more effective than knowledge.” – Nassim Taleb

A few days ago, I posted a valuable lesson of innovation. That learning, precedes innovation. When you think of big established companies, you immediately think R&D and how they use this capability to push it. Actually, R&D has nothing to do with pushing it. Especially, if it only leads to knowledge.

Think about it. Microsoft outspends Apple in R&D, yet Apple is the most valuable company in the world. Why is that?…

What did you learn about innovation during 2012?

in Innovation, Question-To-Innovate, Questions

question to innovate

This the thirteenth of a series of weekly posts where I will answer a few common questions about innovation. Please feel free to add your own response. Also, if you have any questions you think we should discuss, let me know.

What did you learn about innovation during 2012?

This a filtered list of tweets from yesterday’s #innochat. What did you learn about innovation during 2012?

Storified by Jorge Barba· Thu, Dec 20 2012 12:38:35

And empathize while you do it! RT @jorgebarba: Takeaway: To innovate, commit to try! – #innochatRenee Hopkins
RT @SunilMalhotra: Epic! "@jorgebarba: Learned: The only way to reach certainty is to empathize with others. Empathize more! – #innochat"Jose Baldaia
@jorgebarba @InnovationFixer Agreed: empathy helps us to understand Why is often more important than What. #innochatMatt Recio
RT @jorgebarba Also why empathy is so important. Cant help unleash the GIANT if others dont feel you have their best interest #innochatRenee Hopkins
@jorgebarba so our role as innovation facilitators is to help release the giant #innochatKevin McFarthing
RT @jorgebarba: Not everyone wants to be an innovator, yet everyone has a GIANT inside that desperately wants to come out to play #innochatCathryn Hrudicka
+1 RT @Renee_Hopkins: Yes!! RT @DesignFiction: Prototype Prototype Prototype. #innochatJorge Barba
RT @Renee_Hopkins: Very insightful perspective! RT @steelemaley: RT @MaryAnnReilly: Experimentation is a gesture. Persistence is a fuller language. #innochatJorge Barba
RT @CreativeSage: RT @MrsRoadshow Reduce intimidation, resistance to change. Discover RT @Renee_Hopkins: Let’s replace "Just do it" w "Just try it". #innochatJorge Barba
Learned that I should join #innochat more often. A must for 2013 (if the world doesn’t end!)Jorge Barba
This is critical to leading change MT @jorgebarba: People like possibilites, but not the action that it takes to get there. #innochatStephen Abbott
Try before you buy… RT @jorgebarba: Innovation: A commitment to try – #innochatKevin McFarthing
@jorgebarba Right – and commitment needs leadership from the top #innochatKevin McFarthing
RT @Renee_Hopkins: OK, here’s another new slogan for 2013, besides "Just try it" – "Don’t be an innovation talker." Do be a do-bee! #innochatJorge Barba
Very important > RT @mattbrat1: I learned how to fail better in 2012. Also re-learned the need to learn faster than you fail. #innochatJorge Barba
Re-learned that people like possibilites, but not the action that it takes to get there. Getting commitment is hard – #innochatJorge Barba
+1 RT @Renee_Hopkins: Let’s replace "Just do it" with "Just try it". #innochatJorge Barba
RT @CreativeSage: RT @mattbrat1: ..learned innovation itself comes in many flavors. No single industry, process or product can define for everyone. #innochatJorge Barba
RT @jorgebarba: I re-learned that innovation takes a long-time "commitment to on-going excellence". Not a short term project – #innochatKevin McFarthing
Hard but true > RT @InnovationFixer: A1 I learned to look at ways to help from the now, not the ideal as per @JohnWLewis #innochatJorge Barba
Big time! RT @Renee_Hopkins: I learned that communication is critical to innovation, especially collaborative innovation. #innochatJorge Barba
RT @InnovationFixer: I learned that there is still a mismatch between talk and action in making innovation a priority #innochatJorge Barba
A lesson in itself! RT @jorgebarba: be aware that it might not work all out as you planned at the end – #innochatRenee Hopkins
RT @jorgebarba: Learned: The only way to reach certainty is to empathize with others. Empathize more! #empathy – #innochatCathryn Hrudicka
Learned: The only way to reach certainty is to empathize with others. Empathize more! – #innochatJorge Barba

You can download the .PDF archive of yesterday’s #innochat here.

A lesson from NASA: Learning precedes innovation

in Innovation

In the above video, Cosmonaut Sunita Williams, gives us a tour of the International Space Station. It’s 25 minutes long, but I guarantee you it is worth watching.

Now, this post is about a lesson from NASA, and Ms. Williams doesn’t talk about any lessons about innovation. But what does, is a short paragraph in the Slate article where I found this video:…

Why do trendspotting at all?

in Innovation, Question-To-Innovate, Questions, Strategy

question to innovate

This number twelve of a series of weekly posts where I will answer a few common questions about innovation. Please feel free to add your own response. Also, if you have any questions you think we should discuss, let me know.

This is one of those not so obvious questions.

First of all, if you are doing trendspotting because you want to stay ahead of competitors, you have it all wrong. This is a reactive response. Sure, if you do it right (and most of the time you won’t be right), you’ll stay ahead of competitors. But that shouldn’t be your main motivation.…