How to find support for your innovative idea.
Let’s say you are in IT or manufacturing. You believe you have an exciting innovative idea. How do you get the sponsorship to try it out?
I have met many passionate innovators who were not part of the business or commercial part of the company. They were really enthusiastic about an innovative solution they had come up with and had often pursued testing it on their own. Some got support and resources to experiment from their manager. Some even demonstrated that their innovation really worked. But then they became frustrated that nobody else was interested, that they couldn’t “sell” it to the business teams.
The most frequent reason was that the solution addressed a problem the innovator had identified, but did not address one of the current commercial or customer problems the business teams had prioritized.
Based on my experience, it is very simple for an innovator to avoid this rejection: talk to a business leader as early as possible to find out what problems they are focused on. How to find this business leader? Again, it is very simple: check with internal publications or ask around who is in charge of the key brands, products, services that drive revenue for the company. An alternative approach is to connect with one of the company’s innovation leaders. They will be able to quickly evaluate if your idea may fit current business needs and they can make the relevant connection. Maybe this innovation leader can also guide you towards an ongoing Innovation Challenge or platform, where you can submit your idea.
The next step is to meet with the business leader. Ask a manager, an innovation leader or a trusted, connected colleague to introduce you. Then actively listen to deeply understand what challenges the business team is focused on. This will help to “position” your innovative idea. It’s important to show how the innovative idea might address the specific challenge, how the innovation can drive unique value for the business/customer and why you believe this innovation can work. It helps if you have talked before to a few customers or stakeholders. Also, try to understand the innovation framework the company is using, so you can align. Find out where the current focus of the company lays, such as “digital”, “customer centricity”, “innovation”, “AI”, “big data”, …
A good initial outcome is if the business leader supports you to do a test, e.g. a qualitative assessment of a few of the key assumptions why you believe your innovation will work. Maybe you’ll get some initial funding. Maybe the business leader will assign someone from the business team to partner with you. Agree on a follow up timing. Keep communicating. That’s it! Don’t be disappointed if you get rejected the first time – you likely learned a lot, so you can maybe come up with an even more innovative idea.
As Lee Iacocca said:
”You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.”
As Innovation Leader, I communicated the business challenges as broadly as possible across all departments, so anyone could focus their innovative ideas on these challenges. I also made sure everyone knew how to find me, so I could help and connect them further.
More reading: 6 Ways The Best Leaders Innovate and Bring Great Ideas To Life and 4 Strategies For Introducing New Ideas At Work
What do you think? Please discuss below!