5 Tips for successful innovation

1. Before you innovate, look 'outside'

We know from experience that in a lot of companies, their attention is often internally focused. Sometimes it’s striking how little awareness senior leaders have of external trends and developments, both inside and outside their own industry. Instead of starting indiscriminately from assumptions about what is - or is not - changing in the world, it is advisable to continuously look beyond the boundaries of your own organisation so that you can be certain that you have a solid and reliable perspective from the outside in and from the future to the present.

To do this you don't just need good external feelers. You have to be able to filter which external evolutions will be relevant for your company and which will not. Dare to relate the developments around you to your own business, even if they do not seem to immediately connect. In a world where branches, trends and developments are increasingly intertwined, an evolution that at first glance is far from your business can still prove to be very impactful and relevant.

2. Anchor innovation with the business strategy

A successful innovation strategy aligns with the overarching objectives in your organisation. Where does the organisation want to go? How will we still be successful in the short and long term and what innovations can contribute to this? This connection between innovation and strategy is the foundation for a successful approach.

However, a strategy is not only focused on what you do; It's also about choosing what you don't do and what you don't invest in. Be as clear about what you're not going to do as you are about what you're going to do. If you’re not, you’ll lose focus. You cannot deal with all problems, possibilities, or ambitions at the same time.

Conversely, you also have to be daring enough to 'kill your darlings' if you see that something isn’t working. When this happens don't think of the money you invested as wasted, think of it as an investment in learning. By identifying what doesn't work, you are one step closer to finding something that will work. In the world of innovation, the process is just as important as the end result, because it is a constant process that brings you closer to the right approach.

3. Avoid an us/them atmosphere

Give your innovation team enough freedom to create, but don’t let them become too isolated from the rest of the organisation. Distance can lead to an us/them atmosphere where there is a gap between those who are involved in the day-to-day business and 'the innovation club that is allowed to experiment'. Protect your innovation team from simmering resentments like "We make the money, while the hip club of usual suspects has fun and tries new stuff."

Recognise that a separate "innovation club" can sometimes activate an organisation's autoimmune system. This happens when the rest of the organisation feels that the innovations are not in line with the company's goals and values (see also point 2).

"A separate 'innovation club' often activates the autoimmune system of an organisation"

4. Provide clear support at the top of the change

Explicit support from top management is indispensable for the success of an innovation process. Those who don't have that support, are isolated, in an innovation bubble and often end up realising nothing of value. The organisation’s leads should provide clear support and a mandate for innovation and communicate that the innovation process is important for the future of the organisation.

Clear communication is essential. The 'why' of the change and innovation must be clear to everyone. Crystal clear communication across the organisation about why change is necessary and how it will contribute to the strength and well-being of the organisation. Make it clear who is on your innovation team and how you work. This provides organisation-wide clarity for the innovation team’s activities and what motivates their approach.

"Visibility and leadership at the top of the organisation is critical to the success of innovation."

5. Respond to real needs

Every innovation, such as a new product, service, or business model, should provide an answer to an active or latent (future) need. You should therefore not just invent new things from out of thin air but look for things that are necessary in a changing world. And test the assumptions you’ve made before you start investing heavily in it.

At iO, we are advocates of Validated Learning. Validated learning involves a structured process that helps you to begin to understand the problem at its core. After that, you'll focus on exploring potential solutions, specifically aimed at a test audience. Ultimately, you'll focus your attention on scaling successful small pilot projects to a broader audience and larger revenue streams.

Without innovation, there is no progress and growth
For modern organisations, innovation is indispensable for progress and growth. In this article, we have shared some insights to increase the chances of successful innovation. iO has a range of specialists that can help you with this.

Best practices for successful business innovation

How will your organisation challenge the status quo? What is your position in a market where the boundaries between domains are blurring? How will you shape a future-proof business model? In this white paper we share 7 best practices for successful business innovation so that innovation does not remain a buzzword but will deliver tangible value.

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