The 4th face of Innovation: The Hurdler

This persona represents individuals who tackle obstacles creatively, turning challenges into opportunities. Their resilience and problem-solving skills are crucial in driving projects forward despite setbacks.

Hurdler does more with less. Hurdler maintains a quite positive determination in the face of adversity.

Hurdler loves to turn lemons into lemonade. Give them a constraint, a tight deadline, and a small budget, and they will likely excel.

?Why It Matters:?

?Hurdles are inevitable in any innovative process. The Hurdler’s approach ensures that teams don’t get discouraged and instead find innovative ways to overcome barriers.

Hurdles stimulate creativity under constraint, often leading to more innovative, resourceful solutions. They compel teams to rethink assumptions and explore new paths.

Examples:?

?1. In a recession-hit economy, Richard Branson couldn’t raise $10 million in debt financing for a video system in his aircraft. However, he got credit for $4 billion worth of new aircraft, and he got his video system for free.

?2. In Infosys's early days, faced with a challenging Indian business environment and limited resources, Narayana Murthy and his team innovated within these constraints, leading Infosys to become one of the global leaders in IT services.?

How to Become a Hurdler Innovator:?

1. Cultivate resilience and view challenges as opportunities.
2. Remain agile, ready to pivot strategies as challenges arise.
3. Embrace every setback as a learning moment.
4. Actively seek diverse viewpoints to enhance problem-solving.
5. Utilize scenario planning to prepare for and overcome future hurdles.

?Conclusion:

?Adopting the Hurdler persona can transform the way we perceive and tackle challenges, leading to a more innovative and resilient approach in both personal and professional spheres.

I have written about the first 3 faces of innovation:

The Anthropologist Innovator

The Experimenter Innovator

The Pollinator Innovator

Source: The Ten Faces of Innovation by Tom Kelly