Being an innovator is not an easy job. Especially when you're innovating within a large organization (and you are not the boss), you need to convince a lot of people. You need to inspire your colleagues, share your vision of the future market and potential clients, show them how the new product or service idea is feasible. And you need to convince them that it's an attractive move for the company and has a high chance of success. Talking to innovators I noticed that many of them consider the time they have to invest in convincing others a kind of wasted time. Some innovators feel the resistance of others as a personal attack on their attempt to move the company really forward.
But getting internal support for your innovative ideas, concepts, prototypes and business models is essential. Otherwise nothing happens. You can only present your idea for the first time once. So prepare yourself for 'the firing squad'. In my innovation practice I learned that innovation does not stop at the first 'No!' That's the moment it really starts!
As an innovator you are mostly working in a conservative company. That's why your position was created in the first place. Of course they'll say no to your innovation. What would you do if someone came up to you out of the blue, saying you have to do the things you do totally differently in the future? Or do totally different things. Innovation is always provocative by definition. So when they say "no" to innovation, don't take it personally. It is not the end of the battle. It's only the beginning!
I like innovation because it's so damned difficult. Remember: real innovators never give up!
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