Innovation for the Fatigued

Innovation has become a key word throughout all companies. To the extent that some staff members can’t take it anymore, according to Alf Rehn, the author of Innovation for the Fatigued. It is true that the term is sometimes abused, when it is applied in communication and marketing gimmicks to oversell minor evolutions instead of representing real inventions or progress. Thereupon, how can you rally these staff members who feel burned by the innovation approach? First, by giving it back its full meaning, the author argues. That is, by focusing it on the research of solutions to the essential needs and issues of customers. This entails several conditions, starting with the capacity of picturing yourself in the customers’ daily life, and then of coming up with “out of the box” ideas to meet their concerns. It is also necessary to operate in a context that encourages the staff to express and test original propositions, in full confidence. To achieve this, the diversity of the thinking patterns, the ability to take risks, the right to failure must not be hollow statements. They must be systematically embodied and valued in the organization. Through 8 short and pragmatic chapters, Alf Rehn provides numerous examples of companies that have successfully used such approaches. Throughout, he delivers a useful reminder: there is no radical innovation without staff autonomy.