Category: Leadership

Robert G. Cooper On Creating Value Through Innovation

by Bright Osadiaye, posted in Improve Academy, Innovation Management, Leadership, Management, Workplace Learning

‘The best innovators have four times the sales from new products and more than double the success rate as the worst performers. But why the huge differences?’

‘A superior and differentiated product– one that delivers unique benefits and superior value to the customer- is the number one driver of success and new product profitability.’

‘Building in the voice of the customer is one of the strongest drivers of new-product profitability, and also of time efficiency. But the great majority of companies miss the mark here- with insufficient VoC and no fact-based customer insights.’

‘People don’t know what they’re looking for until they see it or experience it. So get something in front of the customer or user fast- and keep repeating these tests all the way through to formal product testing or field trials. Multiple iterations and product validations- spirals development- are essential when facing fluid markets with customers that are uncertain about their needs.’

‘Manage risk by breaking the process into increments. When the uncertainties and unknowns are high, keep the spending low.’

‘If you want speed to market, then focus– resource your projects properly.’

‘Of the five most important drivers of businesses’ new-product performance, idea management has the strongest impact.’

‘Customer visit teams are valuable for gaining real insights into the customer’s world: the ability to identify and focus on customer problems and unspoken needs, a vital source of product ideas.’

‘Innovative customers are quite likely to have the industry’s next new product, and this lead-user method is one way to uncover what it is.’

‘Your own employees are excellent potential sources of new-product ideas. Yet all too often, internally generated ideas are either mundane or not acted upon. But there are ways to change that.’

‘How does one design a system that integrates many activities and multifunctional inputs and fosters a cross-functional team approach?’

Source:

Robert G. Cooper (2017). Winning at New Products: Creating Value Through Innovation

Ron Roberts On How To Be A Great Leader

by Bright Osadiaye, posted in Improve Academy, Innovation Management, Leadership, Management, Workplace Learning

To lead other people, you must first lead yourself. Because real leadership starts with you.

‘Great leaders humbly admit their flaws and dig them up as they would dig up weeds about to take root.’

‘Great leaders strive to become more conscious of what motivates and drives them and what determines how they relates to others.’

‘Great leaders work to remain conscious of the influence of the invisible unseen ego.’

‘To be a great leader, you must develop your ability to think in an Other-Centric manner which constantly balances your needs with those of others.’

‘Great leaders see things in an open, clear, nonjudgmental manner, looking carefully at many sides of a decision or argument- a prerequisite for making good decisions.’

‘When you judge others, you will always either lower other people’s value or elevate your own.’

‘To help defensive colleagues communicate better, get them to own projections of the way they think things should be and then to accept reality as it is.’

‘Great leaders are patient at the right time and prudently impatient in moderation when the need and timing are right.’

‘Great leaders achieve results by staying calm under pressure.’

‘Great leaders let things unfold naturally, and they leverage the power of patience to achieve sustained success.’

‘Only when leaders take steps to unlock the system that locks in much of the leaders’ behavior can the leaders themselves begin to change.’

‘Everyone wants to feel important. When you help others feel important, the unimportant stuff either dissipates or falls into perspective.’

‘Inaction by leaders leads to system breakdowns. Ongoing interaction and acceptance of reality lead to process improvement and flowing systems.’

‘How much resistance is there in your organization?’

Source:

Ron Roberts (2012). The Well-Balanced Leader: Interactive Learning Techniques to Help You Master The 9 Simple Behaviors of Outstanding Leadership