8 Innovation Takeaways

Every day, we are bombarded with articles on how to become more efficient innovators, improve innovation effectiveness, accelerate results in innovation, and present cases for better innovation! 😉

The fuss is justifiable:

👉 in a highly competitive market, prone to drastic changes due to shifting consumer behavior and the rapid implementation of technologies, only innovation can save businesses from commoditization and enhance their ability to build market penetration.

The other day, I was asked about the key requirements for fostering innovation within organizations. The question made me reflect that, aside from the tools and technologies required for successful innovation, if we want a culture of innovation to thrive in our organizations, we must pay special attention to how we manage relationships and demonstrate results to our shareholders and key stakeholders.

From my years of global experience, working with diverse cultures like the Brazilian, Japanese, Mexicans, South Africans, and many others, here are eight crucial takeaways:

1. Innovation should be an HR challenge, not just a marketing or strategy concern

Unlocking innovative behaviors and fostering breakthrough ideas hinges on how employees perceive their companies. Tools and processes are secondary if there isn’t a genuine commitment from the workforce.

If employee engagement drives profitability and productivity, the same should be expected to drive a culture of innovation across the enterprise.

2. Disruptive innovation requires a broader perspective

Delivering disruptive innovation necessitates viewing problems beyond our own organizational context. Biases from our environment and routines often narrow our view, limiting innovative potential.

👉 We need diverse perspectives to boost innovation.

An example presented to me years ago to illustrate how I should reeducate myself before discussing innovation in China was to view a world map upside down.

I was told, "Adriano, to clearly see China's perspective, you need to understand THIS map."

Kaboom!

3. Proactively disrupt your own products

Instead of perfecting existing products, focus on making them obsolete. Taking control of the next chapter in your innovation story is often more effective.

Professors Theodore Levitt and Clayton Christensen, among others, have emphasized this, but examples such as Nintendo, which transitioned from a playing card company to a digital gaming leader, remain exceptional.

4. The right team matters more than tools and resources

The success of innovative ideas often hinges on having the right team rather than on the tools and resources available.

P&G’s Simplexity model demonstrates how ideas frequently fail due to poor team dynamics.

Additionally, a Gallup report shows that 50% of high-performing teams attribute their success to effective team dynamics.

5. Innovation strategy must be led from the top

For innovation strategies to be effective, senior management must be personally invested and actively involved. Without this engagement, projects tend to become merely tactical.

This is because anticipating the need for innovation requires time and access to studies and outlooks that the operating team may not have, as they must focus on meeting the immediate demands of the coming months.

Jeff Bezos has reported that he used to be directly involved in Amazon’s innovation processes, including an openness about potential project failures.

6. Embrace agnostic development approaches

Some of the most impactful ideas emerge unexpectedly. I have personally witnessed and participated in such cases.

Therefore, it’s crucial to develop projects with an open, exploratory mindset.

There are many studies reporting how serendipitous approaches often lead to breakthrough or more effective innovations.

7. Execution aligned with company priorities is key

The innovation challenge often lies not in generating big ideas but in executing them effectively within the company’s strategic framework.

Many companies falter, as seen with Kodak and Xerox, due to misalignment with their vision and business models.

Take note: if the innovation strategy is not fully and deeply intertwined with the company strategy and execution issues, it will set any project you undertake up for failure.

8. Simplicity should be a core evaluation criterion

The strategy and execution behind an innovation must be simple enough to be understood and explained at all organizational levels.

Although we tend to confuse simplicity with lack of sophistication, it's complexity that often signals potential problems.

👉 Successful companies know that simpler projects have a much higher success rate.

All above applies for innovation in general, regardless of the size and industry of your brand.

In my case, when I think about the food sector and the opportunities in Brazil regarding agricultural products, these eight takeaways can be applied to accelerate innovation. With so many changes happening in the food industry across the globe, Brazil's industry must ensure it secures its leading position while also better serving its consumers.

One important factor: the agricultural sector is known for its relatively low digital adoption, lagging significantly behind other industries, so innovation is more than welcomed!

And, as with everything in life, it's easier said than done. However, we must commit to certain principles - whether these or others that align with your organization - if we truly want our innovations to succeed in the market.