Monthly Archives: November 2009
This is the second of several ‘Innovation Perspectives’ articles we will publish this week from multiple authors to get different perspectives on ‘What is the most dangerous current misconception in innovation?’. Now, here is Holly Green’s perspective:by Holly G. GreenWhat is the most dangerous current misconception in innovation?…that innovation can only be done by a few, naturally talented individualsEach of us has the power to be innovative. There are some simple ways to use the power of your brain to innovate every day. Doing them becomes complex and infrequent not because they require deep expertise or innate abilities, but because we have stripped away the time to pause and ponder. The moments to wander, explore, connect, and trigger our brain to do it differently have been almost completely eliminated from our lives. Think about how filled your current day is. If you aren’t engaged actively with a customer, supplier or … Continue reading
This past Friday I had 6 minutes to share a message about innovation with the world at TEDx NASA. It was a fantastic event with 29 speakers, authors, musicians, aerospace engineers, a neuroscientist and more. 1,700 people were in attendance and it is reported that nearly 100,000 people watched via video streaming on the internet.Given that my typical speech is 45 minutes long, preparing a 6 minute presentation was a bit of a challenge and required me to script it out to make sure I did not go over my allotted time. Below is what I prepared. Within the next two weeks, I will be able to share the actual video footage – where I am sure I said something completely different.TITLE: SOMETIMES EVEN ROCKET SCIENCE ISN’T ROCKET SCIENCEIt’s not rocket science.We hear people use that expression to describe something that’s not that complex. And although …
Want credibility with a set of prospective customers? Want to be accepted as one of them, as a part of their tribe?It takes more than just joining their club. It takes more than just speaking their language, and talking at them.To be accepted today, you have to participate.Participation means two-way communication, in an authentic manner, on a regular basis. It takes more time, more effort, and more investment than what we used to be able to do – buy a list, get some PR, write a letter. In other words, talk at the prospect.Today, prospects require and expect more. If you talk at them (in a letter, a blog post, an article in a trade publication), they expect to be able to talk and comment back. And then, in turn, they expect you to read their response and engage yet again.It’s more work. And as long as your prospects keep … Continue reading
That’s the bugging question that just won’t go away. It seems to get asked every time Steve Jobs goes to the doctor. First it was a brush with cancer. Now it’s amysterious “hormone imbalance” that has left Jobs looking gaunt, forced him to cancel his appearance at Macworld 2009, and put him on a six month medical leave. Once again, people are wondering if Apple has lost its core. But why exactly does the company have this sword of Damocles hanging ominously over its head? Is the destiny of one of the world’s most exciting and successful companies really so precarious? If so, what does this tell us about making one “great man” the kingpin of an organization’s entire innovation strategy?Rumors around Jobs’ health (and speculation about the impact his departure would have on Apple) have been circulating the Internet for months. Yet this is merely the latest episode of … Continue reading
This is the first of several ‘Innovation Perspectives’ articles we will publish this week from multiple authors to get different perspectives on ‘What is the most dangerous current misconception in innovation?’. To kick it off, here is Steve Todd’s perspective:by Steve ToddWho Needs Permission?The most dangerous misconception that I often see in potential innovators is their belief that they need permission to innovate. Or approval. Or funding. Or a specific job title, for that matter.Some innovators may be living in a culture where personal innovation is discouraged. Not to worry. Start a skunkworks and apologize later.Most innovators, I fear, are waiting for someone to tell them to “go innovate”. When this type of mentality is held by the majority of the corporate masses, the treadmill of incrementalism will take its toll on creativity.It’s a worthwhile exercise to compare the need for permission against my favorite equation:Innovation = Productivity + Initiative … Continue reading
Do you remember the annual Christmas special about the island of misfit toys, where Rudolph ends up because he doesn’t “fit in” with the other reindeer? The island is full of misfit toys that weren’t acceptable for one reason or another.A recent Accenture study on innovation found that there must be a mythical land of misfit ideas. Executives who were surveyed for the innovation study said that “opportunities to exploit underdeveloped areas/markets often die because they can never find a home to nurture them.” Less than 15% of the executives surveyed disagreed with this statement. In other words, organizations can generate good ideas that are relevant to specific opportunities, but fail to find business lines or leaders who will adopt and nurture those ideas. So, those ideas must end up somewhere – our land of misfit ideas.There are several reasons why good ideas aren’t adopted and nurtured. In our experience … Continue reading
