How do you refine your team's innovation ideas?

Defining the problem is the foundational step before brainstorming, generating, or evaluating ideas. It allows your team to understand the underlying needs, challenges, and opportunities, leading to more focused and relevant solutions. Additionally, it helps avoid assumptions, aligns the team’s efforts, and ensures that the value of the solution is clear to all stakeholders. With a well-defined problem, you are better equipped to create impactful and user-centered solutions. Defining the problem allows you to communicate the value proposition of your solution more effectively. You’ll be able to clearly articulate why your solution is valuable, what it solves, and how it will make a difference for users or stakeholders.

In my experience, defining the problem is like diagnosing an illness. You wouldn't throw medicine at a patient without knowing what's wrong. Your team is the patient, and the problem is the illness. Before you brainstorm solutions, could you identify the pain points (symptoms)? One thing I've found helpful is to talk to those affected by the problem, and gather data/user feedback. The more you understand the problem, the better equipped your team will be to develop a solution that works!

To achieve this, one approach is to use the Design Thinking methodology, moving through the stages of empathy, problem definition, ideation, prototyping and validation. It is a process that stimulates innovation and creativity, collaboration and reduces risks by validating solutions before implementing them.

Como gestor de Equipes de Alta Performance, entendo que é fundamental a definição do problema para refinar ideias de inovação, foco em três elementos-chave: - Escuta Ativa: Reunimos a equipe para compartilhar perspectivas, capturando nuances e criando propriedade coletiva. - Alinhamento com Propósito: Conectamos o desafio ao nosso propósito maior, dando significado ao trabalho. - Reformulação Positiva: Transformamos o problema em uma pergunta "Como poderíamos...?", estimulando a criatividade. Esta abordagem não só refina ideias, mas alinha a equipe, levando a soluções mais impactantes e relevantes.

In my experience, brainstorming solutions is invaluable. When I faced declining customer engagement, me and my team held a brainstorming session using the SCAMPER technique. This encouraged the team to explore various creative solutions without judgment. The open and collaborative environment ensured all perspectives were heard, leading to a diverse range of ideas. Ultimately, we combined several ideas into a strategy that significantly improved customer engagement. This experience highlighted the value of brainstorming in harnessing team creativity and developing effective, innovative solutions.

Brainstorming is like throwing a potluck dinner where everyone brings an idea to the table. You want a smorgasbord of thoughts, no matter how wild they might seem. It's not about finding the perfect solution right away; it's about cooking up a storm of possibilities. Maybe you use a mind map, spreading ideas like ingredients on a cutting board. Or try on different 'thinking hats' like you're sampling various cuisines. The trick is to keep the ideas flowing freely, without shooting anything down. It's a judgment-free zone where even the craziest notions are welcome. After all, sometimes the best solutions come from unexpected combinations – just like that surprisingly delicious dessert at the potluck!

Who you have on your brainstorming team is at times more important than the topic at hand. Invite not only your core team but others without a vested interest in the outcome and team members with opposite expertise. It is amazing the brilliance that can be captured from such participants. After all, how many times have an uninvested party seamlessly suggested a solution to a problem we painfully struggled with?

Brainstorm as many ideas as possible. Even the silly ones! I kid you not. Write all that members are coming up with. Then, you can cross each idea off one at a time until you get to the one that will actually be feasible in solving the problem (s). Thank you!

Refinar ideias de inovação é realmente um desafio, mas é nesse processo que a verdadeira inovação se destaca. Acredito que a filtragem e a priorização são etapas fundamentais para garantir que as ideias mais alinhadas com os objetivos da empresa avancem. Ferramentas como o lean canvas são ótimas para manter o foco no valor real que a ideia pode trazer. Para mim, é importante também envolver a equipe nessa etapa, pois diferentes perspectivas podem revelar nuances que talvez não fossem consideradas de outra forma.

After establishing ideas criteria, filter ideas by (1) giving each team member a limited number of votes (2) have them use their votes across the available idea choices. Remember that it is possible and feasible to combine ideas.

This approach is incredibly valuable in ensuring the 'stickiness' of the solution you are trying to build. In my experience, I've found workshops and user interviews particularly helpful in providing rich data points and creating an end product that users want and feel part of developing.

Iterating and improving ideas is essential for high-performing teams. In one of our major projects, we faced challenges with a new product feature. Using the build-measure-learn loop, we first developed a minimal viable product and released it to a small user group. Gathering feedback through surveys, interviews, and analytics, we identified usability issues and missing features. We iterated on our design, improving navigation and adding integrations, then tested these changes in sprints. This continuous feedback loop ensured our product aligned with user needs. By involving the team and maintaining a PDCA cycle, we enhanced collaboration, user satisfaction, and product quality.

Regularly check in with users through the feedback loop, be curious, and iterate to keep the innovation / solution relevant and alive. Iterate, and excellence will follow.

Refining ideas isn't just about crunching numbers - it's an emotional journey too. So celebrate those creative flashes and share the buzz with your team! A lil' show-and-tell can go a long way. Maybe you whip up a quick demo or pitch to rally the troops. Or host an idea showcase where folks can strut their stuff. Get playful with storytelling to bring those concepts to life. The vibe you create is key. Make it inspiring! Spread that innovative spirit and others will catch the fever. Everyone enjoys being part of something fresh. Sharing is caring, but it's also motivating and contagious. When you open up that creativity box and let it shine, you'll be amazed at the energy and support it attracts. Celebrate success and grab that momentum!

The reason why this world uses the universal method of the Scientific Method is so that we can share what worked and what didn't. Be sure to publish what you have found, so others can replicate what you are doing. Be sure to include gaps and unknowns too in your reporting. Don't just report the good stuff, the stuff that didn't work is just as valuable to share. Thank you!

Here are some additional points to consider when refining your team's innovation ideas: 1. Create a psychologically safe environment where team members feel comfortable sharing unconventional or risky ideas without fear of judgment. 2. Encourage cross-functional collaboration to bring diverse perspectives and expertise into the innovation process. 3. Set up regular innovation review sessions to assess progress, remove roadblocks, and realign efforts as needed. 4. Foster a culture of constructive dissent, where challenging assumptions and ideas is seen as valuable rather than threatening. 5. Provide time and resources for team members to pursue passion projects or experimental ideas outside of their regular work.