Most organizations I know have questions regarding the topic of innovation. Things like “how can we think more like an innovator, operate more like an innovator, deliver more like an innovator?”

Where do you start?

Let’s face it - innovation is a hard topic to tackle. If it were easy, it wouldn’t hold such value in the marketplace. An effective innovation initiative requires focus, conviction, and organizational alignment. It needs to be pursued as part of a continuous and sustained agenda, not as an isolated event. Continuous innovation is realized by crafting a series of thoughtful, manageable activities that lead to a sustainable set of practices. These activities should be pursued at a pace that is sensible to your organization; what worked for others may not work as well for you.

So sometimes it’s better to take things one step at a time. Each step reveals information about what to do next. Throughout my years as an innovation consultant I’ve observed three primary organizational needs when it comes to the pursuit of an innovation agenda:

The need for focus: Determining the right thing to work on, right now, while ensuring that it aligns with an overarching set of business objectives.

The need for service: Establishing a valuable and enjoyable working relationship with an external advisor such that a fresh perspective is balanced with commitment and service.

The need for action: Identifying ways to better utilize existing know-how, capabilities, and assets throughout the process.