Author: Neha Joshi
The terms, “innovation” and “change” are constant buzzwords in business, especially when technology is involved. To give these words true meaning within an organizational context, it’s important to understand how they are interconnected.
Innovation is a means of changing the status quo by developing and testing new ideas. Change is the real-world impact that happens when an innovation is implemented. Without change, innovation becomes mere ideation. And without innovation, the potential for change is severely limited.
An innovation project brings change and an uncertainty. It is about people or market adapting to a new situation by embarking on a journey of change. We can say that innovation always means change, but not all change is innovative.
When you try and sell your idea to get the buy in from your stakeholders, they focus on the change and use it as a factor for rejection ‘ It will never work!’, customers won’t like it’, We have been doing this way for many years, why change. ?” Rejections like these are all basically saying: “the implementation of that idea will lead to more change than I feel comfortable with.”
How do you deal with this? Very likely, you sell ideas to decision makers by arguing the each idea’s benefits. While this is important, it is not necessarily effective. We talk about benefits, whereas the decision maker can only hear change.
A bold new product idea means changing the production process, changing marketing actions, changing sales strategy and more. A process efficiency innovation means changing the way people work. Certain skillsets may no longer be relevant and that means that people will need to be retrained or, in the worst case, dismissed. People say they like innovation and it is very important but people also don’t like change.
The thing to remember is that, you cannot innovate without creating change. This is a big reason why large organizations find it difficult to implement real innovation: adversity to change.
While you definitely need to identify an innovation’s benefits and introduce them with the smoother transition journey by using change management principles. This methodology becomes critical to identify the right stakeholders, assess the degree of change for the people, to persuade them about the importance of the innovation that you bring to obtain their commitment so they will become your ambassadors of your innovation.
They will be the key in accelerating the speed at which people understand, accept and are willing to apply your innovation, and move successfully through the change process and achieve anticipated benefits faster.
Breaking down the steps of implementation…..
In order to make the implementation of the idea manageable, break up the implementation into manageable steps and then organize the steps into a path from where you are now to the target state of your idea.
Once you have done this, take the time to identify and engage your stakeholders in the beginning of your innovation journey to minimize potential resistance immediately. If you want their support, they need to understand the Change Vision and work together towards each step.
When they complain that something will not work, ask them how to make it work. When they identify a flaw, ask them how to fix it. Be flexible, the collaborative implementation plan may not seem as elegant as yours, but it is more likely to work than your plan because it has been designed by the people who need to implement it. This will help you to adapt your communication strategy, onboard allies and convince others to embark on your innovation journey.
Manage both – the stakeholders and the impacts – carefully. You need to constantly access where your stakeholders are in their own journey and, you need to stay on top of the impacts. You cannot wait until the final phase to find out you have lost people on the journey, you need them to stay onboard throughout the journey to realize the benefits of innovation.
To have a successful innovation change management foundation is critical. The active and visible support of your stakeholders will help convince impacted people to accept changes brought about by innovation. You win by implementing innovative changes and, everyone wins when innovation is successfully implemented.
Organizations that can change can innovate, but will still need skills, creativity, time and patience.
“Innovation is change that unlocks the new value “- Jamie Notter
Share your ideas or an example of your journey with innovation and Change!!!