When we decide to champion an idea, we must consider our commitment to it and whether we believe it will work.
Below are the seven steps described by Komar Nocur in the book Cómo Ejecutar la Innovación, published by Harvard Business Press.
Seven Steps to Implement an Innovation
Being ready and willing to champion an idea also means being ready for the hard work of moving it forward. Nocur suggests seven steps:
- Develop an inspiring vision for your innovation. Put simply, sell your idea. Summarize your vision in a statement that describes the idea and helps win support.
- Identify stakeholders. Identify the people affected by your innovation and those who control the resources needed to implement it. Consider how they will evaluate your idea so you can address their interests and concerns from the start.
- Build an informal support network. You will need technical, political, financial and other support to make your idea a reality. In the early stages, build informal support from people you can turn to when needed.
- Build a business case. The business case explains the idea’s value in terms of customer benefits and returns on investment for your company. It helps gain support and acceptance.
- Communicate with stakeholders. Show people inside and outside your organization the merits of your idea to obtain the resources and support you need.
- Manage resistance. Some people will inevitably oppose your idea. Work to address their concerns so they do not undermine the project.
- Maintain your passion for the innovation. Innovation takes time. To sustain your project’s momentum, you must maintain your enthusiasm.
You can use these steps in any order or in parallel, applying them as needed while implementing your idea.
And you… Which step are you applying right now?
