Any process is designed to give you the confidence to keep going. Because, keeping going is hard, especially when you get stuck or a part fails. Our innovation process is designed to give you the confidence to keep going and get somewhere.
It starts with understanding what you are doing. Not understand everything. Just enough to get going, and get to the next step.
There is always a need to understand what you want to do, how you want to do it, and why you want to do something, and it is even more important as you innovate.
Entering a new project we must understand and clarify our what, how and why. These are things you work on at the start, AND allow to develop over the whole innovation process.
Start with what you want to do. Is it a business with a mission? Is it a community group, like a church or youth group? This is a good place to start because what you will do is the easy part. It will commonly be an innovation on something that already exists. But understand, few will join your venture because of what you do.
How you will do it is important. This will give you more understanding. What values will you have? Who will you be in relationship with? Will you be authentic to yourself and your local community? What staff do you need? This is important because more will join your venture because of how you will do it.
Why you do something is critical. Can you be passionate and sold out to your why? Is anyone else passionate about it? Many argue that you should start with why. It is a good place to start, but we do not consider it to be a deal breaker. However, what is important is that you will not have a clear understanding of your project until you are clear and direct about why you are doing it.
A good exercise to do is to ask yourself the 5 why questions. First statement: I want to coach my son’s under 9 soccer team.
Why? Because they need a coach?
Why? Because playing sport is important?
Why? Because I want to help my son and his friends.
Why? Because I want to see them develop?
Why? Because I want to see them grow up to be good citizens, I believe soccer can help them get there.
Now we have something very specific. Another person might get to, “I want my son to play professional soccer”. Another, “Because I will have guilt if I don’t”.
Understanding what, how, and why you want to do something gives you information and confidence to step into our next step: Step 2: Observation and Listening. The 2nd step of the innovation process. Next week.
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