Teaching Corporate Innovation

In a prior article "Think like an Inventor" I outlined some basic steps for an individual to train their mind to innovate. My partner Bob and I both are firm believers in the team concept in business. Bob was the creator of our first book "The V-Formation Method" using the example of migratory birds working within a team effort to accomplish a task. Geese migrating south using a V-Formation flight pattern can travel 70% farther than a single bird alone.

This might sound comical but it is true. An associate we'll call Mr. CanDo was a good employee who always had his company's best interests in mind. He took on every challenge asked of him and rose from factory floor to holding key positions over 25 years. Over the years he submitted product designs that were consistently overlooked. Nine years after submitting one design, their sister company in Japan introduced an almost identical concept — and Mr. CanDo was again overlooked.

He shares: "I came to sincerely believe I no longer had an opportunity to excel within this corporate environment. No matter what I did, they always saw me as the Guy from the Shop."

He left, designed a more innovative lower-cost solution, licensed it to a competitor, and went on to patent several more innovations. What his former company lost was their greatest resource: their people.

Can You Teach Innovation?

Absolutely. Ask yourself: who knows better than your people, your products, the process and what's in your market? The true challenge for you as Owner or Executive is how to tap into what your people have. As I say: "Grow Your People" and you "Grow Your Company."

Many times it is an outside resource that is needed to reenergize your people. Mr. CanDo also shared one key principle: "When someone took the time to believe in me, that's when I quantum leaped my abilities." That person was a Mentor or Coach — and every organization needs one.