Last updated on Aug 19, 2024

Your stakeholder is unsure of their role in innovation. How can you guide them towards clarity and progress?

Innovation in business is a collaborative endeavor, yet it's common for stakeholders to feel uncertain about their roles in this dynamic process. Understanding how to navigate this uncertainty is crucial for the health and growth of any organization. Your stakeholders are essential in driving innovation, and providing them with clear guidance is key to leveraging their unique insights and experiences. By engaging them effectively, you can foster a culture of innovation that propels your business forward.

1 Clarify Roles

To ensure stakeholders understand their role in innovation, start by clarifying what is expected of them. This involves outlining their responsibilities and how these contribute to the larger innovation strategy. By establishing clear expectations, you encourage accountability and empower stakeholders to take ownership of their part in the innovation process. It's important to recognize that each stakeholder brings a different perspective and set of skills to the table, which can be harnessed to drive innovation in unique and valuable ways.

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🌻 Janette Beetham FRSA 🔗📈

20yrs specialising in neurodiversity in the workplace. |Founder NWN Neurodiversity Workplace Assessor training L4 | Neurodiversity Aware®| Neuroinclusive Practice™| XL-Strategy®
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In my experience it is important for stakeholders to feel valued, supported and safe. Once people understand this and have a guidance framework to work to, they are more likely to contribute. I believe it is also important to explain that often the most outlandish ideas can have real value. In order to do this effectively we also need a facilitator who can provide a welcoming. 'safe space' where people can freely share ideas, without fear of discrimination or ridicule and this usually results in a more creative approach and can have some interesting results.

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Araceli Colclough, MBA

Assoc. Director Business & Digital Transformation in Healthcare, I can help drive data-driven innovation and growth through strategic business, digital transformation, and supply chain optimization.
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Creating clarity in roles improves productivity, accountability, and collaboration. When team members have a clear understanding of their responsibilities, they take ownership of their tasks and work more efficiently. This clarity reduces misunderstandings, allowing team members to become more proficient in their roles, which boosts morale. As a result, they can respond proactively rather than reactively.

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2 Foster Engagement

Active engagement is crucial for stakeholders to feel invested in the innovation process. Encourage them to share their ideas and provide feedback by creating a safe space for open communication. This could involve regular innovation meetings or workshops where stakeholders can collaborate and brainstorm. When stakeholders are actively involved, they are more likely to understand their role and the significance of their contributions, which in turn can lead to more innovative outcomes and a stronger commitment to the company's vision.

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Araceli Colclough, MBA

Assoc. Director Business & Digital Transformation in Healthcare, I can help drive data-driven innovation and growth through strategic business, digital transformation, and supply chain optimization.
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To foster engagement, you should encourage collaboration and provide clear expectations. Explain the “why” of the project to help everyone understand its purpose and impact. Ensure team members have the necessary resources and remove any roadblocks. Set measurable goals to track progress, and recognize and celebrate success to boost morale and motivation.

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3 Offer Support

Stakeholders may need support to effectively contribute to innovation. This can include access to resources, training on creative thinking techniques, or guidance on how to evaluate and develop ideas. By offering this support, you help stakeholders overcome any barriers they might face and enable them to fully engage with the innovation process. Providing tools and education not only builds their confidence but also enhances their ability to contribute valuable insights.

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Araceli Colclough, MBA

Assoc. Director Business & Digital Transformation in Healthcare, I can help drive data-driven innovation and growth through strategic business, digital transformation, and supply chain optimization.
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Foster open communication by encouraging everyone to speak up, set achievable goals to provide a clear sense of direction, mentor and support to help remove roadblocks, celebrate success by recognizing achievements, and always make time for Innovation experimentation and collaboration using the team’s expertise.

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4 Encourage Autonomy

Granting stakeholders autonomy encourages them to take initiative and develop innovative solutions independently. This sense of ownership can lead to more creative and effective outcomes. However, it's important to balance autonomy with guidance to ensure that their efforts align with the company's strategic goals. By trusting stakeholders with the freedom to explore new ideas while maintaining a supportive framework, you can stimulate progress and drive innovation forward.

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Araceli Colclough, MBA

Assoc. Director Business & Digital Transformation in Healthcare, I can help drive data-driven innovation and growth through strategic business, digital transformation, and supply chain optimization.
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To avoid working in silos, managers should aim to have autonomous teams while maintaining a balance. Encourage everyone to speak up, set achievable goals to provide a clear sense of direction, celebrate success by recognizing achievements, and always make time for experimentation and collaboration using the team’s expertise.

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5 Measure Impact

To maintain clarity in the innovation process, it's important to measure the impact of stakeholders' contributions. Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) related to innovation can help track progress and provide tangible evidence of success. This not only helps stakeholders understand the value of their input but also motivates them to continue seeking innovative solutions. Regularly reviewing these metrics with stakeholders reinforces their role and the importance of continuous innovation.

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Araceli Colclough, MBA

Assoc. Director Business & Digital Transformation in Healthcare, I can help drive data-driven innovation and growth through strategic business, digital transformation, and supply chain optimization.
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If we can measure it, we can control it. Measuring the business impact in terms of time or savings allows us to continue innovating, keep the team motivated, and document lessons learned accelate innovation

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6 Adapt and Evolve

The business landscape is constantly changing, and so too should the approach to stakeholder involvement in innovation. Be ready to adapt roles and strategies as needed. Encourage stakeholders to be flexible and to learn from both successes and failures. This adaptability is key to sustaining progress in innovation and ensures that stakeholders remain clear on their evolving roles within this dynamic environment. By fostering a culture that embraces change, you can keep your team aligned and focused on achieving innovative breakthroughs.

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Your stakeholder is unsure of their role in innovation. How can you guide them towards clarity and progress?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Clarify Roles

2 Foster Engagement

3 Offer Support

4 Encourage Autonomy

5 Measure Impact

6 Adapt and Evolve

Business Innovation

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Your stakeholder is unsure of their role in innovation. How can you guide them towards clarity and progress?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Clarify Roles

2 Foster Engagement

3 Offer Support

4 Encourage Autonomy

5 Measure Impact

6 Adapt and Evolve

Business Innovation

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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