Let’s be honest – everyone wants to be innovative. It’s the buzzword of the decade. But wanting it and actually doing it are two entirely different things. I’ve seen plenty of companies with big dreams but no real follow-through. A whiteboard covered in sticky notes does not an innovation strategy make.
The problem is that many businesses get stuck on the idea generation stage. Classic brainstorming sessions might be a fun way to get the creative juices flowing, but they often produce vague concepts or solutions no one can actually implement.
If you want to create an environment where truly groundbreaking ideas flourish, you need a toolkit that extends beyond the brainstorming board. Over the years, I’ve found these three practices incredibly helpful:
1. Design Thinking
Design thinking isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a human-centered problem-solving approach. It starts by deeply understanding the needs of your customers or users, and then iteratively prototyping solutions until you find one that makes a genuine impact.
Case Study: One venture I backed, PB Food, used design thinking to completely rethink the patient experience in their industry. It wasn’t just better tech, but reimagining the entire process, resulting in increased of sale performance.
2. Trendspotting for New Opportunities
Innovation isn’t just about solving today’s problems; it’s anticipating tomorrow’s opportunities. Keep an eye on emerging trends, not just in your industry, but in adjacent fields. Where demographics are shifting, technologies are advancing, or regulations are changing – there’s often space for disruptive solutions.
3. The “Jobs to Be Done” Framework
Too often, businesses focus on the features of their product, not the problem it solves for the customer. The “Jobs to Be Done” approach helps you cut through the noise. Ask yourself: What fundamental struggle is your product or service actually helping people overcome? When you understand the core “job,” innovation follows.
Call to Action
Don’t get overwhelmed – you don’t need to overhaul everything at once. In the next week, pick ONE of these practices to focus on. Implement it on a small-scale project, or simply use it as a lens to re-examine an existing problem you’re facing.
The goal is consistent innovation, and that starts with changing your habits.
Let me know how it goes, and stay tuned for more innovation insights!
