Successful Innovation is a Matter of Willpower

'It is not the strongest of the species that?survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the?one?that is the most adaptable to change.' This wonderful quote of Leon C. Megginson is still so relevant in this fast-changing world. That's why it's important for you to be an innovator at work.

What makes innovation so difficult is that?a lot of people have to change their convictions and habits before something really new will be deployed. You can invent alone, but you can only innovate after teaming with others in your organization: it's we-nnovation instead of i-nnovation.

The single biggest obstacle at the start of innovation in one word is: NO!

The single biggest obstacle at the start of innovation in one word is: no.?Successful innovators never accept the following seven No's.

1. No, we have always done it this way....?Well, our world changes fast.?When the rate of change outside is more than what is inside, we can be sure we will have a problem soon. That's why it's time to think?differently now: join me.
2. No, our customers won’t like that....?Are you sure? Let's go out there and ask what they think of the new concepts we've ideated and organize customer focus groups or test our ideas online.
3. No, it’s not possible....?Well as Dan Brown said, 'Everything is possible. The impossible just takes longer.'
4. No, that’s not logical....?Of course it isn't. If it would be logical and fit our present processes it would not be innovative. Like Einstein said, 'If at first the idea is not absurd, then there will be no hope for it.'
5. No, there's no budget.... So, what! We'll 'go underground' and proceed anyway, using the budget and resources of another project. It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission. [Grace Hopper]
6. No, management won’t agree....?Managers say yes to innovation only if doing nothing is a bigger risk [Gijs van Wulfen]; pick the right moment.
7. No, that's way too risky....?You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore [Andre Gide]. Innovation creates uncertainty. Reduce uncertainty using pilot projects or independent start-ups.

You should be prepared for 'the firing squad' every innovator will meet on his/her way. In my early days in corporate cultures I felt the resistance of others as a personal attack on my attempt to move the company forward. I got too excited, too emotional, too upset and at the end of the day I was very disappointed in my company, my colleagues, and myself. Then, when my rationality returned, I stood up again and made a second attempt.

Successful innovation is a feat not of intellect but of will

So the single biggest obstacle in innovation is one small word: No. In 1928, it was the famous economist Joseph Schumpeter who wrote, 'Successful innovation is a feat not of intellect but of will.'

Successful innovators know how to get internal support for innovative ideas, concepts, prototypes, and business models. Otherwise nothing happens. They turn the ‘Nos’ into ‘Yesses’. Innovation does not stop at the first no; that’s the moment it really starts.

Innovative regards,

Gijs

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