5 Steps to Get Buy-in for Your Next Innovation
Leadership Tip of week #129
adapted from HBR
Everyone wants innovation in their organisation, but getting a new idea implemented can be a challenge, especially when office politics are in play. When you’re trying to get approval for your latest innovation, follow these four steps.
1. be clear on the problem you are trying to solve: really understand the internal and customer problem you are trying to solve. this is 80% of the challenge
2. anticipate resistance. If you know what people might object to, you can plan how you’ll address those concerns.
3. understand what objections are truly about. For example, someone might say they object because of a publicly acceptable reason — say, the project is too costly — when their real concern is political, like they’re afraid their team will lose influence.
4. find a champion for the project. This should be a senior executive whose clout and expertise can help you move the project forward.
5. gather a critical mass of supporters. If you have a group of people who believe in the innovation enough to try it, you’ll have social proof that the idea is a good one.
Adapted from “How to Navigate the Politics of an Innovation Project,” by Brian Uzzi
Data Pulses storytelling 