Do you have an innovation team?

Everyone understands that innovation drives the future. As global competition continues to increase across virtually every industry and innovation is consumed at an ever-faster rate, the pressure to introduce the next breakthrough has never been greater.

To meet the insatiable demands and expectations of the market, companies are reshaping and retooling their traditional approaches to innovation. Perhaps the most critical task – and the most challenging – is choosing the right people for an innovation team.

Paving the way for a successful innovation team starts before the players are actually chosen. Organization need to start by creating a clear and well-defined description of their innovation goals. This process will ensure the candidates are aligned against the desired outcome, not the other way around. After the candidates have been qualified and been provided with technical expertise and competence, three fundamental qualities have to present; successful innovation teams are made up of individuals who:

* are good at creative problem solving

* are open-minded and eagerly embrace new thinking

* are not limited by their own knowledge and experience.

With the first quality, it is important to make the distinction between invention and innovation. Innovation takes an invention and transforms it beyond its original, intended use. That’s why the ability to creatively problem solving by envisioning a new application of an existing technology or solution is so critical to successful innovation.

The second quality, open-mindedness, is an absolute imperative for all innovation team members. Innovation simply does have a chance to flourish if it is dismissed in its infancy by those who are not able or willing to consider and then build on the ideas and perspectives of others (the devil’s advocate is definitely not needed).

Finally, team members must have a way of thinking and therefore ability to truly innovate that are not limited by an ingrained perspective or approach to a specific technology or process. Simply put, if someone is too set on a candle as a source of illumination, then he or she will not be able to imagine using its wax droppings as a polishing agent or lubricant.

There is one key team member whose selection is paramount to successful innovation – the leader. This person must be willing to assume ultimate responsibility for the team’s performance. He or she must have an abiding passion for innovation and the communication skills necessary to provide the inspiration, support, and guidance that will keep the team motivated and moving forward.

The leader must also be prepared to defend the team and its process and run interference on its behalf, should its work (or even its existence) be challenged by other factions within the organization.

Which brings us to the last quality the leaders must possess: fearlessness. Only leaders who set an example of how to apply courage and technical know-how needed to develop significant innovation can rightfully expect their teams to do the same. If the leader demonstrates that he or she is willing to boldly go where no one else has, the team will follow.

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) is involved in human resource development, alone and in cooperation with partners. ECCP has a Human Capital Club in which new ideas like this innovation requirement are shared and where in-house training activities and topics are presented. Leadership training is high on our agenda. Join us at www.eccp.com.

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