How can you make yourself more visible to senior management in Product Innovation?

To stand out to senior management, align your projects with the firm's strategic goals, highlighting your grasp of its vision. Prioritize innovative ideas by their impact and feasibility, and run targeted experiments to de-risk and validate these concepts. Develop strong business cases for the most promising ones. Senior leaders notice those who display sharp judgment, clear communication, and a consistent output of strategically-focused product development. Your thorough execution from start to finish, coupled with effective communication throughout, will solidify your standing as a strategic and impactful innovator in the eyes of leadership.

Be proactive: Take the initiative to communicate with senior management and share your ideas and insights. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss your thoughts on how to improve the product innovation process. This will help you establish a relationship with them and demonstrate your commitment to the company’s success. Take on additional responsibilities: Volunteer for projects that will give you more exposure to senior management. This will help you showcase your skills and demonstrate your ability to handle more complex tasks. Be a team player: Work collaboratively with your colleagues and be willing to help others when needed.

To stand out to Sr. Management in Product Innovation, ask why, what problem are we trying to solve, how do we know that? Make sure the customer stays at the center of any product innovation. Not once, not twice but iterating all the way to a market test, through a full launch. After launch, continue to listen to the customer voices on an on-going basis and make changes as needed.

In my experience, proposing innovations that fit the overall strategic agenda is a must to gain traction and visibility from the Top Management. You must make sure that the innovation projects that you are leading will bring effective value to the business and you must learn how to communicate on that added value. This can be thanks to a monthly innovation report, which highlights your step forwards and big achievements and tells the story for you and your division on the way you are supporting the business in achieving its targets or gaining grounds/ brand reputation.

At the outset, aligning your Innovation idea with the organization strategy might sound cliché. But many a times it is reversed. You work hard to align Innovation to organization strategy. But it should be done the other way. You should work backwards from organization priorities to identify Innovation ideas. This process makes the Innovation process intentional to solve what is important for the organization. While doing so, you can identify a senior leader who is closest to the influenced goal and involve them early on. This helps you to validate the Innovation idea, draw upon additional cross-functional resources, and most importantly best position you to solve the right problem which is pertinent to your organization senior leaders.

The 'What', 'How' and 'When?' of effective leadership comms: ?? ?? The 'What?': 1. Impact 2. Learnings 3. Next steps 4. Risks 5. Clear actions on how the leader can help ?? The 'How?': 1. Concise 2. Storytelling / Visual 3. Data ?? The 'When?': 1. a-sync > sync 2. Over-communicate (in a-sync) + repeat (in sync)

Establish personalized reporting channels based on the preferences of senior management. Conduct brief consultations or surveys to understand how each executive prefers to receive updates – whether through concise email updates, detailed presentations, or interactive dashboards.

I personally almost always prefer face to face communication when it comes to serious milestones of the project. Being open and honest with whats going good but also what can be improved. It is very important to be self aware as a product manager, so you can get the best result from management. Don't try to hide things under the carpet, everything eventually comes out. So be true, be honest and communicate where you need support. Management is there for that!

There are some key metrics that you should consider aside than the basic ones of Net Sales, etc. - Time to market of the innovation - Innovation (Freshness) Index - P&L Impact of the innovation - Customer Experience and ROX - Customer Satisfaction You have to be smart on which results to show and why! Build a true story behind your work and why this matters for the organization. Innovation is here to support the long-term goals of your organization, make sure this is clear when you communicate your results.

Let's re-define "communicate your results effectively" into: Communicate your results in a language Sr. Management can understand. Business/Financial language. Compare your new product idea with an existing product in a market size that matches with your innovative new product. Data, Shmata...execs want numbers.

To increase your visibility to senior management, actively seek their feedback and mentorship. Request constructive criticism and advice on improving your product innovation skills and performance. Show appreciation for their input and implement their suggestions. Additionally, seek mentorship from senior managers who can offer guidance, support, and advocacy in your career development. This not only enhances your skills but also fosters relationships with key decision-makers, positioning you as a proactive and dedicated professional.

Don't just seek feedback, act on it. ?? Otherwise, you break the sacred feedback cycle trust, and three things will happen: ?? 1. Stakeholders won't proactively provide you feedback. 2. The feedback you receive when asking reactively will be compromised. 3. Stakeholders won't ask for your feedback.

Try to build a relationship before you seek mentorship. For example, show up where your manager may be speaking and ask questions in the QA session. Stay after a meeting and strike up a conversation and get to know the leader. Mentorship is a realtionship, so make sure that it's a good fit for you and that the time you spend together will be productive for both of you.

Initiate regular innovation forums or roundtable discussions specifically designed for seeking feedback from senior management. These sessions can provide a structured platform for presenting your product innovation strategies and outcomes, inviting constructive criticism, and fostering open dialogue.

Choose someone whose career trajectory you admire and ask for guidance. A mentor within senior management is not just a teacher but also an advocate for your abilities and potential. Remember, recognition comes from not just doing your job well, but from demonstrating your dedication to continuous learning and integrating the wisdom of those who have paved the way before you. That’s the approach that I’ve not only practiced but also noticed in those who have successfully made themselves known in their fields.

Build your network and good reputation OUTSIDE the organization as well. Speak at conferences, become an industry expert, help educate students before they enter the workforce, and treat your vendors graciously. Become known as a person that is willing to hear crazy ideas, they'll bring them to you.

Be available for support to your cross functional teams. Don't just say I know product management, you can always learn things by working closely with functions other than yours. Be there for your team always. The more you listen to them, the more they will talk to you. You build the trust and this is how reputation is built. Share what you know, and learn from others. This will help you ultimately become better when facing senior management.

To increase visibility with senior management, focus on building your network and reputation, emphasizing social media promotion and storytelling. Connect with senior managers and influencers who can aid your product innovation career. Engage in cross-functional teams and initiatives for diverse perspectives and opportunities. Use social media to share your achievements, insights, and best practices, positioning yourself as a thought leader in product innovation. Telling your story effectively on these platforms can elevate your professional profile, making your contributions and expertise widely recognized within the organization.

Reapply and improve what other colleages successfully do when planning and implementing innovation. Focus on creativity more than mastery, originality more than standarization, critical thinking more than excecuting. Continuosly invest time on the innovation team and advertise the milestones to senior corporate managers.

Building a network of supporters inside the organization makes your work as a leader much easier. Establishing or becoming a member of a group of people with similar values and views is extremely beneficial in achieving difficult goals and targets. However, I did notice networking can be time-consuming, especially in larger companies. You simply don't have time to catch up with all the people you would like. Therefore, an internal mechanism of careful consideration and selection of networking opportunities needs to be put in place. Otherwise, you can easily spend time on networking only.

In the dynamic landscape of product innovation, being adaptable is key. Foster a culture of experimentation within your team. Encourage small, calculated risks and celebrate both successes and learnings. Highlight instances where you pivoted based on user feedback or market trends. This not only showcases your team's resilience but also positions you as a leader unafraid of navigating uncertainties, a quality highly valued by senior management. Remember, in a world of constant change, those who experiment wisely are the ones who lead the way. ?? #InnovateFearlessly

Taking initiative in product innovation is akin to steering a ship through uncharted waters. It requires foresight, agility, and, above all, ownership. In my experience, those who stand out are the ones who don't just identify problems but also craft innovative solutions. They take calculated risks, learn from failures, and consistently push the boundaries of what's possible. This proactive stance not only makes you more visible to senior management but also marks you as a trailblazer in the organization, someone who's not just part of the journey but actively shaping its course.

In my opinion this taking initiative and ownership is one of the most important quality to make oneself more visible to senior management. It gives a product manager an ability to assess a situation and independently take action to address it. This could include taking risks but can also result in groundbreaking ideas. I believe taking initiative, thinking through the ideas and risk and owning their decisions is an important quality of a great leader.

Don't just take the initiative. Make impact. The impact can be achieved in one of two ways: ?? 1. Getting the job done (the obvious way). 2. Learning why the job should not be done. Saving the company time and $. Both are valid.

Taking the initiative and being an intrapreneur is one of the ways to be recognised by the Senior leadership. Be the person who is ready to go out of the way and take risks to create solutions.

In the current environment of rapid change - the moment you stop learning - you will be pretty much a dinosaur. The one thing we all have to do for the rest of our lives is - Keep Learning. Learning need not be books and training courses. It can come from doing work, experiential, watching others, from hobbies/interests. What is important is the Mindset of CONTINUOUS LEARNING - less the Certificates/Courses. Ensure the learning is aligned to your career goals / personal interests. Try not to take on too much and pick one or two things. Finish them properly and then move to the next one. Too often we start too many things and won't even finish any. All the very best

Product innovation is ever-evolving, and staying up to date with the constant changes is a must. Continuous learning and improvement are not just about acquiring new skills. It's about cultivating a mindset of perpetual growth. In my leadership journey, I've always emphasized the importance of being a knowledge seeker – someone who's not just skilled in their domain but is constantly exploring new horizons. This approach not only keeps you relevant but also showcases your dedication to personal and professional development, making you an invaluable asset to senior management.

To thrive in continuous learning within product innovation, fostering essential skill sets is pivotal. Cultivate curiosity—an innate desire to explore and understand. Embrace active listening and collaboration to gain diverse perspectives. Master the art of storytelling, crafting compelling narratives to convey ideas effectively. Most importantly, shift focus from spotting problems to becoming an adept problem solver—an undeniable asset often overlooked. Investing in these skills propels continuous growth, enhancing adaptability, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving capabilities essential for success.

"We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance." John Archibald Wheeler Although lifelong learning appears to be common sense for at least a decade now, experience has shown that it is not. Living in a modern society with a fast-paced lifespan, breakthrough innovations, and the growing acceptance of artificial intelligence leaves little alternative but to continue learning and developing. The thought of a need like this may appear frightening at first, but applying the concept of lifelong learning is an exciting method to overcome worry.

O campo da inova??o de produto está sempre evoluindo. Mantenha-se atualizado com as últimas tendências, tecnologias e metodologias. O aprendizado contínuo é fundamental para manter sua inova??o relevante e sua visibilidade alta.

Organize a company-wide competition for a win-win. The leaders get awareness on the great ideas, while you/the team gets the visibility.

Deep study of market with appropriate data will help you supporting your innovative product idea. How can you solve user’s problem in the most innovative way and make it simplest experience always benefit the customer.

Practice continuous UX research in order to be more in touch with the customer needs. If resources permit, dedicate an hour at least a day to look at any kind of data that you can get your hands on and share the results with the team :)

Elevating visibility in product innovation involves a strategic focus on customer intimacy. Investing time to deeply understand customer preferences and needs showcases invaluable knowledge. This intimate understanding not only demonstrates dedication to excellence and growth but also illuminates the necessary expertise to the organization. By aligning innovations with customer desires, it underscores the direct impact on delivering value. This depth of knowledge becomes a compelling testament to your strategic influence, reinforcing your role as a pivotal driver of innovation within the organization.

Boosting Visibility in Product Innovation for Senior Leadership: My 3 Essentials. Strategic Showcasing: Personally, I've found presenting key achievements and insights in regular concise updates to be effective. Metrics Matter: Highlight impact metrics tied to product innovation. Quantifiable results speak volumes. Proactive Collaboration: Engage with cross-functional teams. Visible teamwork reinforces your role in driving innovation.