Article by Sifted
I was interviewed by Sifted, the go-to media platform for the Europan startup ecosystem. In my interview as a partner at IDEO, the global innovation and design firm known for designing the first mouse for Apple and helping Ikea create the kitchen of the future I share insights and lessons learned from working with innovative companies like Apple and Ikea.
What working with companies like Apple and IKEA has taught IDEO about innovation
Key Takeaways:
Innovation is People-Centric: I stress that innovation is fundamentally a people-centric process, not merely a one-time technological change. I advise avoiding the trap of jargon and underscore the necessity of focusing on people, the paramount strategic asset of any business.
Embrace Uncertainty: I encourage leaders to transform their perspectives on uncertainty and future fears into opportunities for proactive, optimistic, and creative actions. I perceive the accelerating pace of change as a gateway to myriad opportunities and advocate for leaders to be more customer-centered, digitally adept, and creative to uncover and leverage new possibilities.
Impact at a Systems Level: I identify the most significant opportunity for IDEO as making a real impact at a systems level, addressing challenges in health, sustainability, education, and the future of work through interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships across various companies and organizations.
Corporate Innovation Challenges: I observe a prevailing focus on one-time change management and superficial digital transformations, overshadowing the need for sustained, long-term innovation investments. I emphasize the criticality of embedding innovation strategies within every tier of an organization and fostering a conducive environment for enduring innovation across all business strata.
Leadership in Innovation: I counsel new innovation leaders to inspire and mobilize their teams with clear purpose, vision, and aspiration. I accentuate the importance of unleashing the entire team's creative potential and establishing a balanced interplay between freedom and accountability. I also recommend leaders to adopt a ‘we’ rather than ‘me’ approach, leading with curiosity and inspiring their teams to share diverse perspectives by posing bold, profound questions.
Recommended Reads: I endorse "Playing to Win" by Roger Martin for its insightful and refreshing outlook on strategy, harmonizing creativity and analytics. I also recommend "Non-Bullshit Innovation" by David Rowan, which elucidates that corporate innovation is a journey of trial and error and criticizes the superficial innovation approach characterized by mere jargon.
Summary:
I, share my insights on innovation, emphasizing its inherent people-centric nature, the imperative to embrace uncertainty, and the significance of comprehensive and sustained innovation investments. I urge leaders to be proactive, optimistic, and to integrate innovation strategies comprehensively within organizations, concentrating on cultivating an innovation-friendly culture. Additionally, I recommend a selection of books that provide practical wisdom and strategies on navigating innovation and leadership in today’s dynamic and uncertain landscape.
