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7. Ideas drying up? Capitalize on trends and opportunities. Innovation isn’t just about solving
existing problems. It’s also about shaping future opportunities. Entering new markets, meeting
emerging needs, generating new revenue streams. Pay attention to the latest trends. Do shifts in
demographics or technology suggest new opportunities? How about changes in manufacturing
capabilities or distribution channels? New regulations (related to food, health, the environment, etc.)
may seem like obstacles yet be ripe with opportunity. Study successful entrepreneurs. Where do they
invest their energy and money? Become an expert on what’s happening in your industry and beyond.
What do customers want more or less of? How can you profitably provide it?

8. Feel too distant from the situation? Engage frontline employees for input. Creating new or
better methods is difficult if you’re far from the action. Engage associates closest to the customers,
process, or product/service at play. Those with firsthand knowledge and experience. Train them to
pay close attention to opportunities for innovation by using what Twyla Tharp calls “forensic intensity.”
Supply these frontline investigators with starter questions: How can things be streamlined, easier,
more reliable, more energy efficient? What needs aren’t being met? What new things can be tried?
Have them watch and listen for clues that lead to better solutions and new offerings. Capture and
collate their suggestions. Together, evaluate the ideas and try out the best ones. In addition to
making things better, you’ll boost employee engagement by involving them in initiatives that have an
impact.

Want to learn more? Take a deep dive…

Brown, R. (2010, November 29). Is your status quo killing your business? Entrepreneur.
Gallo, C. (2012, August 30). Apple’s secret employee training manual reinvents customer service in
seven ways. Forbes.
Rayport, J. F. (2012, April 24). Free your frontline workers to innovate. Harvard Business Review
Blog Network.

9. Need a fresh idea? Immerse yourself and then let go. To come up with creative ideas on your
own, begin by immersing yourself in the challenge. Don’t rush it—carve out dedicated time. Explore
similarities in other organizations—those in and outside your field. Think out loud with someone who’s
a good sounding board—many people don’t know what they know until they talk it out. Consult with
experts and irreverent thinkers. Study the data. Find new patterns and pick out unusual facts that
don’t quite fit. What’s missing? Dig deep to determine root causes. Break up complex issues into
smaller parts. Draw pictures or flowcharts to make sense of things. View it from different angles. What
would it look like from an economic or political perspective? What’s the least likely thing the problem
could be? Search for opportunities in what appear to be obstacles. After an extended period of
immersion, take a break. Do something relaxing or different—like take a walk, drive, or nap. While
you consciously turn off the challenge, your unconscious mind will continue to process it. The best
ideas frequently surface during these times of incubation. Be ready to write or sketch it out when it
appears.

10. Need a structure you can count on? Use tried-and-true methods. Creativity and innovation don’t
have to be soft and fuzzy. Inventions don’t have to happen by accident or magic. You don’t have to
be Einstein or Steve Jobs. Try following a deliberate process with extensive research to back it up.
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