"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances.  The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them." - George Bernard Shaw

People make innovation happen...PERIOD!  But what kind of people?  I like to refer to the successful strategy of matching people who are "dreamers" with people who are "doers."  Here's what I mean by that:

• "Dreamers" are required to develop new ideas, build off old ideas, think big picture, ignore risk and failure, and generally think of what could be.
• "Doers" are required to bring the real world to the ideas, develop cost models and risk management strategies, draft business cases, complete design & build work and generally think of what can be.

On our Continuous Innovation Diagram...
                                  
...you'll see that I list a number of roles that are key in the successful development of innovative solutions:

• Sponsors/Champions
• Facilitators/Trainers
• Idea Review and Selection Committees or Boards
• Innovation Management Practitioners

You'll also need people in these key roles:

• Idea generators
• Idea champions
• Prototypers (programming, modeling, engineering, R&D, etc)

What are some of the skills this new breed of "innovation people" need to bring to the table:

• Skilled at lateral and alternative thinking styles
• Excels at many different styles of individual problem solving
• Able to actively participate and add value to brainstorming and other group ideation sessions
• Comfortable with taking calculated risks
• Maintains imaginative and creative approach to problem solving
• Able to analyze and learn from failures
• Can assume leadership responsibility

Finally, what will keep these people coming back, again and again, to give your their ideas and special innovation skills?  Here are some of the top recognition/reward mechanisms in use today:

1. Money
2. Lottery for prizes
3. Frequent idea point program
4. Calls or personal visits from senior leaders
5. Ice cream socials
6. Public recognition
7. Promotion to “Idea Leader” role
8. Temporary assignment to work on idea
9. Awards for “Learned Failures”
10. Great Performers Award Banquet

Don't forget...people are your most important resource in your quest for continuous innovation!

Next time...a look at establishing some strategic processes to set up your idea/innovation management system for success right from the start!