Don’t Overcomplicate Innovation

I love how, in the last decade or so, innovation has been given so much attention, especially in the Middle East.??When I started my first business back in 2002, innovation wasn’t rolling off people’s tongues as it does now, especially not from government officials.??Today it’s being emphasised at the highest levels.

But there is an unintended downside to this newfound obsession with innovation.??It makes governments think they need to rush to open “innovation hubs.” The only problem is that no one is quite sure how to use them.??There are plenty of empty high-tech innovation hubs in the region.

Also, it makes some business owners feel like they’re not doing enough (which they probably aren’t) but innovating for innovation’s sake is an expensive mistake for an entrepreneur to make.??Most do not have enough time or cash to devote to open innovation.??This should be the purview of government, Accademia and big corporations.

As for the entrepreneur and small business owner, they need to adopt a?mindset?and?culture?of innovation. Here are four things you can do to make yourself, and your business, more innovative.

1)????Be close to your customer:

The first step in Design thinking is empathy.??Empathy means “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.”??If you understand the feelings of your customers, then you’re doing better than most.??Spend time with them from time to time, watch how they use your products or service, and ask them what else you could provide for them.??Being close to your customer will pay off handsomely in the long run.

2)????Listen to your team:

A good leader allows his or her team to think and suggest ideas.??Why pressure yourself to come up with all the good ideas???You’ll be surprised how smart your team can become once you allow them to.

3)????Keep your radar open to these important trends:

Watch out for two key trends.??The first is trends in your industry.??Read the trade publications and attend the relevant conferences or trade shows.??But don’t stop there, it’s crucial to read about innovations happening?outside?of your industry.??What’s happening in the general tech world that if you adopt could give you a competitive advantage? Also, what is happening in tech that could threaten your survival?

4)?????Don’t be afraid to change:

At Falak, one of our Guiding Principles is "CAN I", which stands for Constant and Never-ending Improvement. We know that change is inevitable and instead of fearing it we embrace it.??Our business changes incrementally every quarter, and when we look back over a year or two, we realise how much we’ve changed.??Having said that, if more disruptive changes are called for, we make that happen too.??Fear is the enemy of success.