So, you’re fired up about innovation, but who should be on your team to make those brilliant ideas a reality? Forget about fancy titles and hierarchical structures – we’re on the hunt for people with the specific skills that will make your innovation initiative flourish.
Here’s a breakdown of the essential roles you’ll want to fill on your team. Remember, especially in smaller organisations, some folks might be able to comfortably wear multiple hats and fulfill more than one function.
The Connectors: These are your organisation’s social butterflies. They have a knack for connecting different departments, even entire organisations and industries, that wouldn’t normally cross paths. While they might not be the deepest experts in every field, they possess a broad knowledge base and understand how to bring the right people together to tackle a challenge.
The Collectors: Think of them as the detectives of the idea world. Collectors excel at gathering up all the fantastic ideas floating around and meticulously organising them so everyone on the team can easily access and utilise this valuable knowledge base. They understand the power of information and ensure it’s readily available to fuel the innovation process.
The Framers: These are the rule-makers, but in the best possible way! The Framers work hand-in-hand with the leadership team to establish clear and consistent frameworks for evaluating ideas. Their job is to build a fair and transparent playing field where all your innovative concepts can compete on a level ground.
The Judges: Imagine a panel of experts from various departments like sales, marketing, and R&D. These are your Judges, and they wield the power (guided by the Framers’ established criteria) to assess the merits of your ideas. They act as the final gatekeepers, ensuring only the strongest concepts move forward.
The Prototypers: Okay, your idea has passed the judging phase and is ready to take flight! But how do you translate that abstract concept into a tangible reality? Enter the Prototyper, the master of rapid prototyping. They’re skilled at creating quick and functional models to test the viability and functionality of your ideas before you invest significant resources. All of the people identified here fulfill a need; however, the Prototyper is vital.
The Measurers: They say “you get what you measure,” and that’s especially true when it comes to innovation. The Measurer is responsible for defining what success looks like for your initiative and then tracks your progress towards achieving those goals. This might involve measuring quantitative aspects like the time it takes to bring an idea from conception to launch, or qualitative elements like the valuable lessons learned from even unsuccessful attempts.
The Storytellers: People are wired to respond to stories. The Storyteller on your team is the keeper of the narrative, collecting and sharing the tales of your innovation journey. A well-crafted story can be a powerful tool for inspiring and motivating the entire organization, reminding everyone of the purpose and potential rewards of your innovation efforts.
The Lookouts (aka The Scouts): Innovation thrives on staying ahead of the curve. This is where The Lookout, also known as The Scout, comes in. Their job is to constantly scan the horizon for emerging trends, disruptive technologies, and what your competitors are up to. By anticipating what’s coming down the pipeline, they help your team adapt and innovate even faster. Scouts scan the future to understand how the industry is likely to change. What are the scenarios we might face? What technologies are in development that may affect our business? What might a competitor do that would upset our position in the market? What is hot in other industries that we might adapt?