March/April 2009 Edition

Innovation Drives Success
by Merrick Rosenberg, MBA

It’s been said that if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. Over the past two decades, the pace of change has accelerated to a break-neck speed. Successful organizations that know that innovation drives success and the people effectively create new ideas, strategies, and products and efficiently turn them into reality.

As organizations rely on teams to innovate, problem-solve, produce, and complete at the speed of change, clearly understanding and capitalizing on individual approaches to innovation is key to sustained success. Successful team members don’t do the same thing at the same time. They do the right thing at the right time. And to do this, teams must capitalize on individual strengths to drive innovation.

Innovate with CARE
There are four key roles that round out the innovation process from creation through execution. At each stage of innovation, different skills and likely, different people are needed to drive the process. The four key roles are captured in the framework of the CARE™ model and include Creators, Advancers, Refiners, and Executors.

First up, the Creators. These out-of-the box thinkers are not bound by existing practices and products. They are revolutionary proponents of change who can create solutions who seemingly think thoughts that have never been thought before. It’s as if they pull ideas right out of thin air.

Next, Advancers take center stage. This group is highly adept at identifying the best ideas generated by the Creators and taking these ideas to the next level. Equally important, they know how to get people excited about the ideas and inspire people to rally behind the very idea of change. Advancers are true change agents.

Now that big picture ideas have evolved and people are motivated to change, Refiners make sure that the ideas will work. They ask difficult questions to ensure that every detail has been considered. If an idea survives the scrutiny of the Refiners, you can be sure that it has merit.

Finally, it’s time for the Executors. As the name suggests, these folks are adept at turning ideas into action. But Executors are not just those who execute, these individuals help to create a methodical, step-by-step plan so that the new innovation can become a reality, not just a vision.

Team roles
Creators	Generate original concepts and ideas that often defy generally accepted rules.
Advancers	Move potential solutions to the next-level, while generating buy-in and excitement for change.
Refiners	Challenge concepts and ideas, often playing the “devil’s advocate,” while methodically uncovering potential problems.
Executors	Lay the groundwork for implementation by creating a step-by-step plan to implement innovation solutions.

By allowing each person to capitalize on their innovation strengths, organizations can manage change, rather than be managed by them. So instead of becoming a victim of events, your organization will shape them.

Merrick Rosenberg, MBA, is the co-founder and President & Chief Learning Officer of Team Builders Plus, in Cherry Hill, NJ. In working with line staff to senior executives in worldwide organizations in diverse industries and sizes, Merrick has served as a facilitator, performance coach, and management consultant for more than eighteen years. He specializes in leadership development, team building, and organizational development. Merrick also coaches individuals using 360-degree feedback results and behavioral style analysis. Merrick has been featured on CN8’s Money Matters Today and in ASTD’s Training & Development magazine.

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