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Terri Lonier

The Craft of Innovation

Articles

By Terri Lonier

The Innovation Spiral

Spiral graphic and circle graphic
Even though circles are the basis of many innovation frameworks, spirals are a better image to express what really happens in the innovation process.

Circles hold immense power over our imagination. The earth, the moon. The Circle of Life. Circling ’round the campfire for stories. We cannot escape the pull of this imagery. 

Circles also populate the common frameworks of innovation. We see it in the Lean Startup methodology of Build-Measure-Learn. Design Thinking is often presented as the triple circles of the Venn diagram of Desirability-Feasibility-Viability.

Choose spirals instead

While the cyclical nature of innovation has been adopted as a given, I believe it’s the spiral that’s a better pictorial choice. Instead of coming back to your origin point, your aim is to begin the pattern again at a higher and more expansive level. Always moving upward and outward, creating a cycle of continuous improvement — even if it is incremental. 

Negative connotations of “running around in circles” also support the preference of spirals over circles. I’m all for the power of repetition, but who wants to repeat work or experience only to arrive back at the same spot?

Move from 2-D to 3-D

Shifting from circle to spiral imagery also means you can recast your path from 2-D to 3-D. Your journey no longer needs to be flat and listless on a sheet of paper. Instead, it transforms into a three-dimensional mental space that’s dynamic and poised for action. Can you feel the movement? 

My challenge for you this week: Find one area of your life where you have traditionally been thinking in circles. How might your journey — whether today’s To-Do list, annual goals, project objectives, or even life mission — be changed by thinking in spirals instead of circles?

Make something happen,

Terri

P.S. I received some great emails on last week’s post on the Snow Tap and Tacit Knowledge (see it here if you missed it). A colleague from California wryly pointed out that it’s a “Sand Tap” out West. A softball coach of teens noted the similarities in guiding young athletes to develop muscle memory, writing that a large part of her coaching is “breaking down my tacit knowledge into step-by-step instructions.” And my stepdaughter in India shared that at every house — and sometimes even in stores — shoes are automatically removed. Yes, tacit knowledge crosses knowledge domains and cultures. Thanks for writing.

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Innovation

By Terri Lonier

The Snow Tap and Tacit Knowledge

Snow Tap Animated GIF

With Chicago facing its snowiest winter in decades, the other day I chose to opt for a ride-sharing service. We stopped to pick up another rider who joined me in the back seat, dragging a huge mound of snow with him. “Wow,” he said. “I’ve never been in this much snow before. It’s pretty impressive.”

As I watched that pile of white fluff turn into a small lake beneath his feet, I thought, “Yup. You don’t know about the Snow Tap.”

For those not used to snowy climates, the Snow Tap is the 2-second action that happens on each foot before you enter a car in snowy weather. You open the car door and tap your foot on the side of the car frame to knock all the excess snow off your soles, leaving the wet outside. (A variation also takes place before you enter your home.) Tap, tap. Tap, tap. It’s a small act with big consequences, as my out-of-town ride-sharing companion discovered when his feet got soggier.

For many of us living in colder environments, this action becomes second nature. It snows. Tap, tap. Tap, tap. Whoever taught you this action is likely long forgotten. But it has become a natural part of your habits, called upon when you need it — and likely dismissed from thought for most of the year.

This knowledge is tacit knowledge, distinct from explicit (and more traditional) knowledge. Tacit knowledge is experiential, intuitive, fluid. It’s rarely written down, yet can have profound implications on an organization’s operations and culture. (It was philosopher Michael Polanyi who explored the concept in the 1950s.)

Sometimes tacit knowledge is recognized as “That’s the way we do things around here.” Or, “People like us do things like this.” Yes, it can carry moral or value-based meaning — but tacit knowledge also expands to adaptations that humans make to processes or operations as they recognize ways to improve results. Often this knowledge is only shared through personal experience and trusted networks.

My challenge for you this week: Consider the tacit knowledge that guides you daily. How can you improve your own level of tacit knowledge — about your work, about your industry, about the world? Who can unlock some tacit knowledge for you? In turn, how can you share some tacit knowledge that you’ve gained through experience, observation, imitation? 

Make something happen,

Terri

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Innovation

By Terri Lonier

Innovation’s Secret: A Peek Inside a Critique

students reviewing work during a critique

Innovation professionals are often curious about the world of the artist or designer. Where do creative ideas come from? How do they assess their work in progress? 

Today let’s peek inside one of the most powerful processes of creativity and innovation: the critique. 

Critiques play a central role in the development of artists and design professionals. These hands-on review sessions gather experts and peers to allow a review of recent work for assessment and guidance. As an art professor and later Dean at one of the country’s leading art schools, I’ve led a lot of critiques. I’ve also witnessed them in a work environment. While conducted in different settings, the process is remarkably similar — and powerful.

Critiques begin with the creator selecting one or more a pieces to share. For those new to the practice, it’s not unusual for hands to be shaking as they pin their work to the walls or set up their display on a tabletop or desk. Mouths become dry as they get ready to speak about their work.

The critique continues with a few moments of silence, as all participants focus on the work being shared and take in the creative expression. Ground rules are established. Participants are expected to fully see, not just look at, the work. Comments must be thoughtful — cheap shots or glib comments are outlawed. The critique moderator plays an important role by keeping comments focused on the work and not the individual. Then the creator is asked a few questions:

  • What were you trying to achieve with this work?
  • Who was your intended audience?
  • Do you believe you were successful?

The conversation is free-wheeling after that, filled with both kudos and suggestions for improvement. Critiques are not intended to dwell on failures or be harshly critical — although many youthful tears are often shed. Rather, the goal is to open up one’s creative output to responses, and to undertake an honest assessment of what has been accomplished, what needs refinement, and which avenues to pursue next.

Most of all, a critique demonstrate that creativity is a professional process, always ongoing. Perfect results are rarely found — and that’s OK. What’s more important is to recognize what is working, and what is not. The dialog leads to clarity of next steps and future possibilities.

If generating innovative results is your life’s focus, the critique process can be an important guide. Understand that opening your work to others for comment may bring temporary discomfort but often leads to better outcomes. Asking — and answering — the three key critique questions brings clarity to what you’ve achieved and what to explore.

My challenge for you: In the coming week, explore how a critique mindset could benefit your work. And if you have critique sessions in your workplace, please zip me an email. I’d like to hear about them.

Make something happen,

Terri

Filed Under: Creative Careers, Innovation

By Terri Lonier

4 Innovation Megatrends for 2019

Innovation will happen across many industries and disciplines in 2019. Whether you’re championing a new company initiative or navigating your career, here are 4 innovation megatrends that will impact leaders across all industries. Use them to frame your innovation strategy for the coming year.

1. Global Economic Volatility
Economic factors will play a role in innovation initiatives in 2019 as companies take a closer look at where to place their innovation investments. As the US stock market continues its gyrations, companies are looking to a volatile first half of 2019 with a likely slowing of the economy beginning late spring or early summer. 

As a result, innovation initiatives will come under greater scrutiny. The days of embarking on innovation projects in hopes they turn out the next big thing are over. Innovation in 2019 must be smart and targeted, with solid strategic focus.

2. China
The second innovation megatrend is the role of Asia’s largest economic force. China continues to demonstrate its expanding leadership in many areas, from e-commerce (Alibaba selling in one day what Amazon does in a quarter) to space exploration (being first to land a craft on the dark side of the moon) to impacting the United States’ largest company. Whether it’s as a market, a competitor who values IP rights in a different way, or as a supplier, China must be a part of every company’s strategic landscape as they plan 2019 innovation initiatives.

3. 5G
For those of us who recall the staticky hiss of dialup modems, today’s broadband speeds are something we appreciate but mostly take for granted. This year brings the rollout of 5G, the fifth generation of cellular networks, and wireless connection rates will shift into an even higher gear. These new speeds will unlock many nascent technologies that have been waiting to strut their stuff, especially augmented and virtual reality. An increase in bandwidth and decrease in latency means that more data can cross digital pipes faster, cheaper, and connect people (and devices) in new ways. Yes, 5G will be over-hyped. However, this megatrend opens up innovation potential in whole new industries.

Along with the speed in connections will come an increase in the pace of daily life. Even though it seems we are moving at rapid (some say relentless) speeds today, 5G will make us realize that we will never move this slowly again.

4. Talent Retention
2019 marks the year that those under the age of 40 begin their ascent to the majority of the US population. As both workers and consumers, they will have an outsize influence on the future of companies large and small. This impact will be felt most strongly in talent retention, as younger workers choose to explore nontraditional career paths, whether showing little company loyalty, exploring personal entrepreneurial journeys and the gig economy, or retiring early. To remain competitive in their respective markets as well as in talent, companies will need to innovate their hiring, retention, and general management practices.

Even though every year brings new changes and opportunities, 2019 is shaping up to be massively disruptive — which brings both risk and remarkable opportunity. How do these 4 innovation megatrends dovetail with your 2019 strategy? Are you poised to make the most of them, particularly in the first six months of the year?

If you’re ready to make rapid growth on a new initiative or primed to unlock projects that seem stuck inside your company’s walls, I welcome your call to explore how we might work together.

Filed Under: Innovation

By Terri Lonier

Innovation Starts with Your Blank Canvas in 2019

Blank Canvas

As you embark on new innovation projects this year, set yourself up as a professional creative does. First, prepare the canvas. Get your ideas in order. Select the appropriate size and format that will express your ideas for an optimal result. Innovation starts here.

Then choose the best tools at hand. For artists, this may be paper, paint, clay, wood, fiber, or other material. Tools for your innovation project may include research and other data, organizational resources, and colleagues offering ideas and support.

Then, dive in. For artists, there is nothing quite so appealing as the joy of a blank canvas. Yes, it can be intimidating to face that wide open space. But the creative professional knows that what’s most important is to start. Mentally compose the idea, choose the appropriate tool, and put that pen, pencil, brush, stick, sponge, or fingertip to work.

Any shape can be altered, any line erased. But the “waiting to begin until I’m ready” cannot be overcome until action takes place. 

Creatives and innovation professionals both understand that projects are always works in progress, open to alterations and reconsiderations. We cannot get to the better version without going through the first rough drafts, beta tests, and pilot projects along the way.

Whatever you have in mind for this year, begin.

For me, I will be visiting Innovation Labs around the United States to bring back stories of how innovation is really happening in ways large and small. If you have an Innovation Lab you’d like to nominate for me to visit, please zip me an email.

Your challenge this week: Consider all the innovation projects you want to accomplish this year, and decide which one will likely generate the greatest positive impact. Then in some small way, begin.

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Innovation Labs

By Terri Lonier

Zombie Innovation Projects

If you’re running an active innovation program, chances are high that you have some zombie projects haunting you. These projects rarely contribute any positive outcomes and have long seemed lifeless, yet they remain “undead.”

I’ve seen quite a few zombie projects while advising innovation efforts at both large corporations and smaller startups. Telltale signs include project leads who have lost interest and are now distracted by newer, shinier initiatives. Often, funding was neither increased nor cut, which keeps the project limping along. If an initiative was the brainchild of a powerful figure or had important stakeholders involved, it might linger for months or years.

Zombies Are Threats

While zombies may provide a delicious surge of adrenaline while watching a late-night movie, in a business setting these projects can be darkly threatening, particularly in three areas.

  1. They create doubt and distraction. Zombie projects are always in the wings, detracting from the focused efforts needed for new projects. They cast doubt on fresh initiatives, as participants wonder if this project also will end up as a zombie. If it’s an external activity, the project’s lifelessness and abandonment can also damage your brand.
  2. They claim time and mental energy. While zombie projects may not be fully active, they aren’t completely dead. They require at least a minimum amount of tending — attention that could be better deployed elsewhere.
  3. They tie up resources. Zombie projects likely receive some sort of staffing and financial support, even if modest. Freeing up these resources can fuel other, more valuable efforts.

Ending Zombies in a Positive Light

What’s the best way to deal with zombie projects? First, acknowledge them. Pull them out of the shadows and determine what elements, if any, are worth continuing. If there are none — as is often the case — be prepared to eliminate them permanently.

Then, take this important step to end your zombie projects with grace, so they don’t linger or return: Make a full review of what the project has contributed, and document this value. While not a roaring success, a zombie project may have taught you important lessons about focus, planning, or market needs. It could have connected you to new partners or resources. You may have increased capabilities or gained new perspectives. And at least you now know what doesn’t work, which is important and valuable information on its own.

The documentation of value also provides the basis for a positive response to future questions. When someone inevitably asks about the project, you can reply: “That project is closed. We gained a lot of information about __________ and are putting it to use.”

My challenge to you is to review the zombie projects you have hanging around the shadows of your company. Drag them into the light, assess their value, and be grateful for what they have contributed. Then end them, fully and permanently, knowing they’ve served their purpose.

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Innovation

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Terri Lonier, Phd

Global business expert Dr. Terri Lonier, named one of the Top 50 Innovators by … More > about Meet Terri Lonier

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Terri Lonier, PhD
Chicago, IL
info@terrilonier.com

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