Your team is at odds over innovation strategies. How do you navigate conflicting approaches in your business?

1 Embrace Diversity

When your team presents a variety of innovation strategies, it's a sign of a diverse and dynamic group. Embrace this diversity by acknowledging that each approach has its merits. Encourage open discussions where team members can present their ideas and the reasoning behind them. This not only fosters a culture of inclusivity but also allows you to see the full spectrum of possibilities, ensuring that the final strategy is robust and well-considered.

2 Assess Feasibility

Once all innovation strategies are on the table, assess their feasibility. Consider factors such as resources, time, and alignment with business goals. It's important to evaluate each strategy objectively, focusing on potential outcomes and how they fit within the company's capabilities. This step is about narrowing down options and identifying which ideas are practical and have the highest potential for success.

3 Encourage Dialogue

Encouraging dialogue between team members who support different innovation strategies is essential. By facilitating a respectful exchange of ideas, you can uncover synergies between approaches that might otherwise be overlooked. This dialogue can lead to a hybrid strategy that combines the best elements from each proposal, increasing the likelihood of successful implementation and team buy-in.

4 Decision Framework

Implementing a decision framework can help navigate through conflicting innovation strategies. This framework should include criteria such as strategic fit, return on investment, and impact on customers. By scoring each strategy against these criteria, you can make a more informed decision. Ensure that the framework is transparent and agreed upon by all team members to avoid bias and maintain trust.

5 Pilot Testing

Before fully committing to a particular innovation strategy, consider pilot testing. This approach allows you to evaluate a strategy's effectiveness on a smaller scale, reducing risk and providing valuable insights. Feedback from pilot tests can be used to make adjustments or even to pivot to a different strategy if necessary. This step is about being agile and responsive to real-world results.

6 Review Progress

Regularly review the progress of the chosen innovation strategy. Set clear milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success. This ongoing review process not only ensures that the strategy remains on track but also allows for continuous improvement. If the strategy isn't yielding the desired results, be prepared to reassess and make necessary changes, keeping your business agile and adaptive.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?