Innovation Training

The Ultimate Guide: What is it and why does it matter?

What is innovation?

Innovation is a term that we often hear in organizations, but it's also one of the most misunderstood and misused words. While we may use it as a noun ("That's a great innovation!") or as a verb ("We're innovating right now!"), it's crucial to clarify what innovation truly means and, more importantly, what it doesn’t.

What Innovation Is Not

Before we define what innovation is, let’s address common misconceptions about what it isn’t. Innovation often gets confused with several related but distinct concepts:

Creativity: Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to create something new. It’s an essential component of innovation but not the full picture. Innovation requires more than just creativity.
Invention: Invention implies creating something completely new, often without considering commercial viability. While invention can be part of innovation, it doesn't encompass the entire concept.
Digitization: Moving from analog to digital processes is important but doesn’t necessarily qualify as innovation.
Optimization: Making something better—whether improving a product, process, or service—is important but doesn’t fully capture innovation. Optimizing isn’t the same as innovating.
Improvement: Fixing something that’s broken is not innovation. Improvement is valuable but lacks the forward-looking, customer-centric aspects that innovation requires.
Transformation: Business transformation often refers to changes in a company’s operating model or systems. Though transformative, this isn’t always innovation.
Working Innovatively: Sometimes people confuse innovation with simply adopting new methods or processes. Innovation, however, refers to what you produce, not just how you work.

So... what is innovation?

At its core, innovation is the creation and successful delivery of new customer value. This definition comes from a range of experts and real-world experiences and stands as the most practical, accurate understanding of innovation.

Let’s break this down:

New: Innovation must involve something new. If you’re just replicating an existing product or service, you aren’t innovating. Your solution must offer a unique aspect that differentiates it from what's already out there.
Customer Value: The new product, service, or solution must provide value, particularly to end-users or customers. Innovation is not just about being novel; it’s about delivering value that users find important and beneficial.
Successful Delivery: A great idea that never sees the light of day, or one that’s executed poorly, doesn’t count as innovation. The final product or service must be delivered effectively, meeting customer needs, and aligning with commercial viability.

Why Is This Definition Important?

Understanding the difference between innovation and its common misconceptions is crucial. When you realize whether you’re improving, optimizing, or truly innovating, you can apply the appropriate tools and methods. Each of these goals requires different approaches, and misidentifying them can waste time, effort, and resources.

In summary, innovation isn’t just about newness or creativity—it’s about delivering something new, valuable, and executable. If your idea, product, or service ticks all these boxes, then you’re innovating. If not, you may be improving or optimizing, which are still valuable pursuits but require different approaches.

Why is innovation important for people, teams and businesses?

Innovation is vital not only because it keeps people, teams, and businesses competitive, but also because it drives progress. Without it, industries stagnate, and opportunities for growth are missed.

Why Innovation Matters to Individuals

For individuals, innovation opens doors to career growth, learning, and reputation building. People who engage in innovation are often seen as leaders in their field. Innovation is a key driver in personal development, enabling individuals to think creatively, solve complex problems, and stand out professionally. When you work innovatively, you're positioning yourself to be at the forefront of change rather than just reacting to it.

Earn More: Top innovators often see higher pay, bonuses, and other financial incentives because they create tangible value. According to McKinsey, companies that prioritize innovation outperform their competitors by delivering new products, entering new markets, and establishing new revenue streams. This leads to higher rewards for those driving successful innovation.
Engage in Exciting Projects: Innovation-ready leaders are more likely to be trusted with high-impact projects and new ventures, which are often more exciting and engaging than standard operational work.
Build Key Relationships: When you drive successful innovation, you gain visibility and build relationships with senior leaders and decision-makers. This can open doors to new roles and career advancement (as noted by the Stanford Graduate School of Business).

Advance Your Career: Top innovators tend to advance into leadership roles or strategic positions because they demonstrate the ability to drive business impact and navigate complex challenges (as observed by BCG).

Why Innovation Is Critical for Teams

Innovation is not only important for individuals but also for teams, enabling collaboration, problem-solving, and the ability to deliver higher-value outcomes.

Here's why:

Rapid Alignment and Focus:

When teams are aligned around innovative goals, they focus on the right problems. Misalignment and wasted effort are minimized because innovation provides a clear framework for identifying the most valuable opportunities. Teams that innovate don't waste time on projects that won’t deliver impact—they work toward solving the right problems with clear, prioritized focus.

Faster Progress and Execution:

Innovation-driven teams move from ideation to execution more rapidly. By using structured, proven innovation methods like design thinking or design sprints, they avoid getting stuck in endless meetings or indecision. Instead of spinning in circles or working inefficiently, innovation enables teams to stay focused, move faster, and achieve tangible results.

Better Decision-Making:

Innovating teams tend to make better decisions, faster. With innovation frameworks, there’s less second-guessing and more data-driven decision-making. Teams have clarity on what needs to be done, and the decisions they make lead to faster and more meaningful progress. Innovation removes the bottlenecks created by indecision and hesitancy, driving actionable outcomes that lead to success.

Richer Problem-Solving Through Diversity:

Teams that innovate tap into diverse perspectives, enabling richer creativity and stronger problem-solving capabilities. Innovation is driven by collaboration across different functions, skills, and viewpoints, which breaks down silos and leads to solutions that are far more effective and well-rounded than isolated efforts. Diversity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a fundamental driver of stronger ideas and better results.

Supercharged Productivity:

Innovation provides a structured approach to collaboration, which enhances productivity. Unstructured meetings waste time, but innovation creates focused, efficient collaboration. By eliminating chaos and inefficiencies, innovation transforms teams into well-oiled machines that work smarter and achieve more in less time.

Why Businesses Rely on Innovation

At an organizational level, innovation is the key to long-term success, growth, and resilience. Businesses that innovate position themselves to stay ahead of the curve, and here’s why:

Staying Competitive in a Rapidly Changing Market:

Innovation is crucial for businesses to stay relevant. Markets evolve quickly, and companies that fail to innovate risk being outpaced by competitors who bring new, valuable products and services to market. Innovation helps businesses stay competitive by ensuring that they continuously meet customer needs with fresh, relevant solutions.

Driving New Revenue Streams:

Through innovation, businesses can develop new products, enter new markets, and create entirely new revenue streams. Whether it’s launching new product lines, introducing disruptive technology, or optimizing services for the digital age, businesses that innovate find opportunities for growth where others do not.

Improving Customer Satisfaction:

Customers' needs and expectations change over time, and innovation ensures that businesses can adapt to meet those evolving demands. By continuously innovating, businesses don’t just retain customers—they delight them. Whether it’s through improved user experiences, more personalized products, or more efficient service delivery, innovation helps businesses stay customer-centric and maintain loyalty.

Operational Efficiency and Cost Optimization:

Innovation isn’t just about flashy new products. It can also drive process improvements that lead to greater operational efficiency. By embracing innovative methods, businesses can streamline operations, cut costs, and improve productivity without sacrificing quality. This type of internal innovation allows companies to do more with less and operate more efficiently in a highly competitive market.

Resilience and Adaptability:

Innovation builds resilience within organizations. In today’s business environment, disruption is a constant threat—whether from technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviors, or new competitors. Companies that innovate can respond to these disruptions quickly and effectively. They’re not just reactive; they anticipate changes and proactively adjust their strategies to thrive in an uncertain future.

How do you innovate?

Innovation may seem elusive, but it doesn’t have to be. Successful innovation comes down to using structured methods and collaborative practices that allow teams to move quickly and efficiently while delivering meaningful results. The real key is understanding both the "why" and the "how" of innovation.

Step 1: Adopt Proven Innovation Methodologies

There are several methodologies that have been proven to drive innovation effectively:

Design Thinking: This methodology focuses on understanding the user’s needs and challenges. It involves empathy, ideation, and prototyping, ensuring that the solutions developed meet real user demands.
Lean: Lean innovation emphasizes minimizing waste and maximizing value. The goal is to rapidly build, test, and learn, allowing teams to create products that users actually want in the most efficient way possible.
Agile: Agile innovation is all about iterative progress and flexibility. It allows teams to adapt and pivot quickly in response to changes or feedback, fostering a dynamic and responsive approach to problem-solving.
Design Sprints: This is a high-intensity, time-boxed process that helps teams move from problem identification to a tested solution in a short period. It’s a structured approach to speed up innovation and reduce the risks of failure.

These methodologies provide frameworks for guiding innovation, but they don’t entirely map out how teams should work together during the process. This is where structured collaboration comes in. It provides a set of practices that help teams work together productively, ensuring that everyone contributes, ideas flow freely, and decisions are made quickly.

Step 2: Structured Collaboration

One of the most overlooked elements in innovation is the way teams collaborate. Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation—it’s a team sport. However, the way teams traditionally work together (through endless meetings and unstructured discussions) often leads to bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

What is Structured Collaboration?

End with a Decision: Instead of leaving meetings without clear outcomes, structured collaboration ensures that every session concludes with a concrete decision. This keeps the team aligned and helps move projects forward faster.
Time-box Collaboration: One of the key practices of structured collaboration is time-boxing. By limiting the time spent on each part of the process (ideation, discussion, decision-making), teams avoid unnecessary delays and maintain momentum.
Visualize Discussions: Turning abstract ideas into visual representations—whether through diagrams, whiteboards, or digital tools—helps the team stay focused and make sense of complex issues more easily.
Work Together Alone: This concept might sound contradictory, but it’s an important innovation practice. It encourages individuals to ideate and problem-solve independently before coming together as a team. This reduces groupthink, ensures everyone’s ideas are heard, and leads to richer, more diverse solutions.

By implementing these structured collaboration practices, teams can avoid the common pitfalls of slow, unproductive meetings and instead foster an environment that encourages creativity, speed, and efficiency.

Step 3: Continuous Testing and Iteration

Innovation isn’t a one-and-done process. It requires continuous testing and iteration to refine ideas and ensure they meet user needs. The best innovators are those who embrace the mindset of constant learning, testing, and tweaking their products or services based on feedback and data.

Test early and often: Get prototypes or MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) into users' hands as quickly as possible. Gather feedback and make improvements before committing to a full-scale launch.
Embrace failure as a learning tool: Not every experiment will succeed, but each failure brings valuable lessons that help refine future iterations.

Step 4: Align Innovation with Customer Value

At the heart of innovation is delivering new customer value. It’s not enough to create something new for the sake of novelty; your innovation must solve a real problem or meet a significant need for your customers.

Does this provide something new?
Is it valuable to customers?
Can we deliver it effectively and at scale?

How do I learn how to innovate? The DIY version

Learning how to innovate on your own can feel like an overwhelming journey, but it’s entirely possible with dedication, self-discipline, and the right resources. However, let’s be real—it’s not going to be easy. This DIY approach is comprehensive and detailed, but it’s also complex and can be quite demanding. If you’re willing to put in the work, here’s your step-by-step guide.

Start with In-Depth Research and Study: You can’t innovate effectively without first understanding what innovation truly entails. This means immersing yourself in a wide variety of resources, including books, research papers, and case studies on innovation methodologies. The goal is to build a foundational knowledge of the core principles and frameworks that drive successful innovation.
Master Innovation Methodologies: Once you’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to dig deep into the three key innovation methodologies: Design Thinking, Lean, and Agile.
Practice Structured Collaboration: Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. You’ll need to improve your ability to collaborate effectively—without relying on formal training.
Continuous Experimentation and Feedback Loops: Innovation requires action. You need to get into a habit of experimenting, testing, failing, and improving.
Create Your Own Innovation Culture: Without the infrastructure of a company-driven innovation program, you’ll need to create your own personal innovation culture.
Stay Updated and Inspired: Innovation is constantly evolving, and without a structured program, it’s easy to fall behind.

How Do I Learn to Innovate? (Get Trained Version)

Structured training can provide a fast-track to learning innovation by offering access to practical guidance, expert insights, and real-world applications. Here's how the Get Trained approach can help you master innovation efficiently and effectively without taking a sales-driven perspective.

Join an Innovation Training Program: Formal training programs are designed to accelerate your learning by giving you direct access to experts who have successfully applied innovation principles in various industries. However, not all options are created equal, so choosing wisely is essential.
Receive Real Coaching and Mentorship: One of the most significant advantages of structured training programs is the ability to get personalized coaching and mentorship, which helps you refine your skills and apply them more effectively.
Learn by Doing: Innovation is a practical discipline. While learning the theory is important, the best way to truly master innovation is by doing it. Hands-on experience allows you to test out new ideas, make mistakes, and iterate on your approach.

4. Avoid the Pitfalls of Online Courses

While online learning platforms provide a wide variety of innovation-related content, they often fall short when it comes to practical application.

Regurgitated Content: Many online courses are created by instructors who have compiled information from popular books without adding their own real-world experience. This leaves the content feeling more academic than actionable.
Too Conceptual: Many online courses focus too much on theory without offering practical steps on how to implement what you've learned.
Difficulty in Finding Credible Sources: With so many options available, it’s challenging to find courses led by instructors who have real, hands-on experience in innovation. Be sure to research the instructors' backgrounds to ensure they have relevant, real-world expertise.

5. Access to Toolkits and Templates

A major benefit of structured training programs is the access to resources that make innovation easier to apply.

Toolkits and Templates: Look for programs that provide templates, checklists, and guides to help you structure your innovation process. Having ready-to-use tools can streamline the innovation process and help you hit the ground running.

How to select the Right Innovation Training Provider

When choosing an innovation training provider, consider factors like credibility, practical application, hands-on learning, and access to resources.

Credibility and Proven Success: Ensure the provider has a track record of successful innovation projects and instructors with real-world experience, not just theoretical knowledge.
Practical, Not Just Theoretical: The program should go beyond theory, offering practical tools that you can apply immediately in your work environment.
Hands-On Learning: Look for programs that prioritize experiential learning, with real-world simulations, exercises, and projects that let you practice innovation techniques.
Access to Toolkits and Resources: The training should provide access to templates, checklists, and other practical tools that simplify the innovation process.
Expert-Led Training: Choose programs led by real-world practitioners who have successfully implemented innovation methodologies, offering practical insights and case studies.

What is innovation training?

Innovation training is a structured learning process designed to equip individuals, teams, and organizations with the tools, methodologies, and mindset needed to foster creativity, solve problems, and implement innovative solutions effectively.

What are the main benefits of innovation training?

The benefits of innovation training include developing skills in collaboration, creativity, and effective problem-solving, as well as access to tools and methods for rapidly moving from idea to implementation.

How Do I Measure the Success of Innovation Training?

Measuring the success of innovation training should focus on behavior change, process improvements, and high-impact metrics such as productivity, speed to market, and decision-making speed. Key indicators include:

Consistency in Producing Innovation: Your team’s ability to deliver projects that meet objectives and create tangible value.
Application of Proven Frameworks: Teams effectively using methodologies like Design Thinking, Lean, Agile, or Design Sprints to drive real results.
Faster, Constructive Decision-Making: Improved collaboration and faster, more constructive decision-making across functions.

What Should Your TEAM Be Able to Do After Good Innovation Training?

When your team is trained in innovation, it should foster Transformative Value by breaking down silos and driving collaboration across functions. This enables:

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Teams can move fluidly across departments, leveraging expertise at the right time.
Cognitive Diversity: Teams harness diverse perspectives for richer, more innovative solutions.
Quick, Confident Decision-Making: Teams equipped with the right tools and frameworks make faster, higher-quality decisions, leading to faster project progress.

What topics are typically covered in innovation training?

Typical topics in innovation training include:

Introduction to Innovation: Definitions, types, and the importance of innovation in business.
Innovation Frameworks: Methodologies like Design Thinking, Lean, Agile, and Design Sprints.
Problem Framing and Ideation: Techniques for defining problems accurately and generating a wide range of solutions.
Customer-Centric Innovation: Focusing on delivering meaningful customer value.
Prototyping and Testing: Creating and testing prototypes to iterate on ideas before full-scale launch.
Measurement and Metrics: Tracking meaningful outcomes and ensuring behavioral and process changes.

How are innovation training courses delivered?

Innovation training can be delivered in various formats:

In-Person Workshops: Hands-on, immersive learning experiences with direct interaction with instructors and peers.
Online, On-Demand: Self-paced courses with video content, exercises, and practical application.
Live Virtual Training: Real-time online sessions with opportunities for interaction and group collaboration.

Can innovation training be delivered remotely?

Yes, innovation training can be effectively delivered remotely using live virtual training, collaboration tools, and self-paced online modules.

How long do innovation training courses typically last?

The length of innovation training courses can range from a single day for introductory workshops to several weeks for in-depth programs.

How do I choose the right innovation training provider?

Choose a provider with a track record of successful projects, practical application of concepts, hands-on learning, and access to resources.