Posts by Dennis Stauffer
The Value of an Innovator Mindset
When it comes to driving innovation, the single most important consideration is mindset—the mindset of those attempting to achieve innovation, and the mindset of those they encounter. This is not speculation. In my peer-reviewed research, I have measured mindset and compared it to value creation, and it makes a huge difference in innovation success.
Read MoreInnovativeness – The Ultimate Transferable Skill
There may be no more important capability a person can have in the 21 st century than knowing how to innovate. Not just professional innovators, but every one of us. Personal innovativeness is not a single attribute, but rather a whole constellation of behaviors that in combination fulfill all of the diverse capabilities that innovation requires.
Read MoreClimbing Innovation’s Value Creation Curve
When it comes to determining whether something is a successful innovation, there is one absolutely crucial test: Does it create value? That value may come in many forms. Usefulness for the customer, profits for a company, or social good for a nonprofit, but it must be there.
Read MoreWhat’s Your Innovativeness Index? Shifting the odds of innovation success
Good advice and sound innovation practices are at the core of what innovation leaders are striving to do: make innovation work better. However, I’d like to refocus the conversation onto something that I’m convinced is more powerful than any of these strategies (based on hard data…
Read MoreBoosting Personal Innovation Capacity – Iterate!
When done well, iteration is not just about improving products and services and customer intelligence and profitability—as important as those things are. It’s about improving our thinking. What most distinguishes highly successful innovators from those who struggle, is…
Read MoreThe Innovator’s Secret Weapon – Empathy Part 2
When you have an idea, it’s your responsibility to enable them to “get it.” It’s your challenge. And if you don’t have the empathy and the patience to help others see what you see, then you will likely fail to win the support you need…
Read MoreThe Innovator's Secret Weapon – Empathy
The ability to see things through your customers’ eyes is definitely not something everyone can do. Some, like Steve Jobs, have been quite good at it. Others, like Netflix, completely missed the mark. How well do you really understand and empathize with your customers? How do you know?
Read MoreAn Innovation Lesson From American Idol
Singing is one of those skills that is difficult to evaluate in ourselves. We rely on feedback from others to determine how we’re doing. (Think of American Idol.) The personal capacity to innovate is a lot like that. It’s difficult to gain an accurate sense of our own creativity or analytical skills or insight. How often have you seen people either discount their creativity or exaggerate it? It’s quite common…and not just in singing competitions.
Read MoreInsight Trumps Knowledge
Most of us spend our lives pursuing knowledge when what we really need is insight. Throughout our education and our careers we strive to learn things that we hope will bring us success. While knowledge is certainly important, a great insight will beat it every time.
Read MoreAvoiding Innovation Arrogance
Expertise in the field of innovation, like any other expertise, can frequently become a hindrance to further progress. We get comfortable with what we know, what’s worked for us in the past, secure in the knowledge that has already brought us success—along with personal status and influence and income.
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