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When is the best time to ask your team for ideas?
You first have to come to accept the fact that some times
are better than others to ask all of your smart people to spend time on
collaboration. It may be as simplistic
as putting aside some time for ideation ('Join us for innovation week!'). But human nature is a bit more complex and
your organization can wring the creative juices out of your team more optimally
under some conditions more than others.
At least if we extrapolate from the social, psychological studies out
there.
are better than others to ask all of your smart people to spend time on
collaboration. It may be as simplistic
as putting aside some time for ideation ('Join us for innovation week!'). But human nature is a bit more complex and
your organization can wring the creative juices out of your team more optimally
under some conditions more than others.
At least if we extrapolate from the social, psychological studies out
there.
Right after the big push
One of the best times to ask your people for their support inthe collaborative process might be right after they have just completed a big
project. Studies have shown (see note 1)
people who are first depleted by a tedious task wrote more favorably than those
who did not complete a tedious task. The
depleted people performed just as well, just more favorably. So if the new product is finally rolled out
('whew') or the ribbon cutting ceremony just wrapped up, then think about
soliciting everyone's opinion before they steal away to take a few days off.
While people have their fingers crossed
Although folks might grouse about giving up their time to
pay attention to the 'ideas of the future' (so caught up are they normally with
their day to day responsibilities), you can get their attention best while
they're waiting for news. Taking this
further, maybe the ideal time to ask for collaboration is the time period
between when everyone submitted their next year's budget request and the time
when they hear the final budget results.
pay attention to the 'ideas of the future' (so caught up are they normally with
their day to day responsibilities), you can get their attention best while
they're waiting for news. Taking this
further, maybe the ideal time to ask for collaboration is the time period
between when everyone submitted their next year's budget request and the time
when they hear the final budget results.
People are more charitable with their time in a bid to
improve their karma. (See note 2). Moreover, people are more charitable in these
situations so they also become more optimistic about the outcome. While managers are waiting to hear what their
budgets will be might be the perfect time to ask them for their time, their
help and for their opinions. You might
find they want to put some time and thought into answering your questions
whilst believing the new innovations you present can address the future needs
of the organization.
improve their karma. (See note 2). Moreover, people are more charitable in these
situations so they also become more optimistic about the outcome. While managers are waiting to hear what their
budgets will be might be the perfect time to ask them for their time, their
help and for their opinions. You might
find they want to put some time and thought into answering your questions
whilst believing the new innovations you present can address the future needs
of the organization.
Find and ask the risk takers
OK, this section is looking at the nature of our (human)
hunter/gatherer past. In a recent study,
researchers set up a virtual hunter gatherer environment where men and women
could interact anonymously. The
uncertainty of our hunter gatherer past might give us an insight into why
groups of people are inclined to collaborate at all. (See note 3).
hunter/gatherer past. In a recent study,
researchers set up a virtual hunter gatherer environment where men and women
could interact anonymously. The
uncertainty of our hunter gatherer past might give us an insight into why
groups of people are inclined to collaborate at all. (See note 3).
People who cultivate resources with small payoffs but low
uncertainty ('gatherers') share little. Ergo,
it might be difficult to get those at your organization who follow the path of least
resistance to work in collaborative teams.
On the other hand, people who cultivate resources with big payoffs but
high uncertainty ('hunters') almost always evolve into sharing groups and, as a
result, are more successful. If you can
identify those on your team who are 'risk takers' you're likely to easily
channel their energies into a collaborative effort that produces the kind of
innovative thinking your company is hoping for.
uncertainty ('gatherers') share little. Ergo,
it might be difficult to get those at your organization who follow the path of least
resistance to work in collaborative teams.
On the other hand, people who cultivate resources with big payoffs but
high uncertainty ('hunters') almost always evolve into sharing groups and, as a
result, are more successful. If you can
identify those on your team who are 'risk takers' you're likely to easily
channel their energies into a collaborative effort that produces the kind of
innovative thinking your company is hoping for.
By the way, good social media technology can monitor the
behavior of your user community and help you identify 'early adopter' types
making it easier to figure out who should be invited to talk to whom. Your idea management system or innovation management system should be able to pay attention to the behaviors of your user community. Then based on their activity identify experts.
behavior of your user community and help you identify 'early adopter' types
making it easier to figure out who should be invited to talk to whom. Your idea management system or innovation management system should be able to pay attention to the behaviors of your user community. Then based on their activity identify experts.
Make sure you reward the right behavior
You may already know some of what follows but bear with me
for a few sentences. Once you've
identified the best times to ask for ideas you want to keep people engaged in
the process.
for a few sentences. Once you've
identified the best times to ask for ideas you want to keep people engaged in
the process.
- Here's the part you may know already: Sometimes it isn't so smart to give out a
cash prize for the best idea. It usually
works in a counter intuitive manner if your goal is collaboration. Instead of
people working together, they hoard their ideas to the end of the contest for
fear of having someone 'steal' their idea and taking the cash prize. Plus if you give out $25 this month and $50
the next, pretty soon you're escalating from beyond the world of giving out
t-shirts to iPods to iPads to Cars'and then what are you going to give out next
year that can top that?
What you need to do is reward contributions with
acknowledgement. The best ideas will
come by themselves if you can just get a bunch of people to collaborate.
- Here's the new info you may not already know: Recently Nathan Schneider wrote an essay
explaining 'the Templeton Effect' in the Chronicle of Higher Education. He tells the story of the world of academic
philosophers. John Templeton started a
foundation giving multimillion dollar grants for answers to the 'big questions'
like 'the scholarly investigation of character'. A non-Templeton grant to a philosopher is
usually closer to $25,000. Suddenly
every contributor is paying attention to the 'big questions' but less spiritual
inquires are being ignored.
If you give out large amounts of rewards in any one direction
you might find no one is paying attention to the other fields of endeavor that
you're hoping to have the group pursue.
Instead consider posting a list of the top contributors for the month
and sending every contributor an email to acknowledge their submission. Spread out your acknowledgement and rewards
across all the areas of interest your organization wants to go after.
you might find no one is paying attention to the other fields of endeavor that
you're hoping to have the group pursue.
Instead consider posting a list of the top contributors for the month
and sending every contributor an email to acknowledge their submission. Spread out your acknowledgement and rewards
across all the areas of interest your organization wants to go after.
The job of an innovation manager has many component
parts. You have to be able to encourage
others to give their time in order for you to succeed. One of the best methods to make your job
easier to is to leverage the use of technology to make your job easier. It doesn't hurt to use human nature to your
advantage as well.
parts. You have to be able to encourage
others to give their time in order for you to succeed. One of the best methods to make your job
easier to is to leverage the use of technology to make your job easier. It doesn't hurt to use human nature to your
advantage as well.
Note 1: Derrick, J., 'Energized by Television: Familiar
Fictional Worlds Restore Self-Control, ' Social Psychological and Personality
Science
Fictional Worlds Restore Self-Control, ' Social Psychological and Personality
Science
Note 2: Converse, B. et al., 'Investing in Karma:
When Wanting Promotes Helping,' Psychological Science.
When Wanting Promotes Helping,' Psychological Science.
Note 3:
Kaplan, H. et al., 'Risk and the Evolution of Human Exchange, ' Proceedings of
the Royal Society: Biological Sciences (August 7, 2012)
Kaplan, H. et al., 'Risk and the Evolution of Human Exchange, ' Proceedings of
the Royal Society: Biological Sciences (August 7, 2012)
To learn more
about how an innovation manager can improve the chances for success and about
the kinds of tools required, please register for our upcoming webinar: The top dozen ways to make
the job of the innovation manager easier'.
about how an innovation manager can improve the chances for success and about
the kinds of tools required, please register for our upcoming webinar: The top dozen ways to make
the job of the innovation manager easier'.
Please enroll now in our free webinar!
I'll explore the challenges of how to optimize
user contributions by using technology oriented solutions in our upcoming
webinar: The top dozen ways to make the
innovation manager's job easier. You can
easily register for this complimentary event here: http://bit.ly/RPFuuu. Take the time to join your peers for a few
minutes next month and learn how other organizations are making the innovation
process work for them.
user contributions by using technology oriented solutions in our upcoming
webinar: The top dozen ways to make the
innovation manager's job easier. You can
easily register for this complimentary event here: http://bit.ly/RPFuuu. Take the time to join your peers for a few
minutes next month and learn how other organizations are making the innovation
process work for them.
Ron Shulkin is Vice President of the Americas
for CogniStreamer', an innovation ecosystem. CogniStreamer serves as a
Knowledge Management System, Idea Management System and Social Network for
Innovation. You can learn more about CogniStreamer here http://bit.ly/ac3x60
for CogniStreamer', an innovation ecosystem. CogniStreamer serves as a
Knowledge Management System, Idea Management System and Social Network for
Innovation. You can learn more about CogniStreamer here http://bit.ly/ac3x60
Ron manages The Idea Management Group on
LinkedIn (Join Here) http://bit.ly/dvsYWD . You can follow him Twitter. You can follow his blogs at this Facebook group.
You can connect with Ron on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn (Join Here) http://bit.ly/dvsYWD . You can follow him Twitter. You can follow his blogs at this Facebook group.
You can connect with Ron on LinkedIn.
CogniStreamer' is an
idea management software tool. It is an open innovation and collaboration
platform where internal colleagues and external partner companies or knowledge
centers join forces to create, develop and assess innovative ideas within
strategically selected areas. The CogniStreamer' portal is an ideal
collaborative platform that invites users to actively build a strong innovation
portfolio. In addition it provides a powerful resource for internal and external
knowledge sharing. The CogniStreamer' framework is used by industry
leaders such as Atlas Copco, Bekaert, Case New Holland, Cytec, Imec, Phillip
Morris, Picanol and ThyssenKrupp. CogniStreamer'
idea management software tool. It is an open innovation and collaboration
platform where internal colleagues and external partner companies or knowledge
centers join forces to create, develop and assess innovative ideas within
strategically selected areas. The CogniStreamer' portal is an ideal
collaborative platform that invites users to actively build a strong innovation
portfolio. In addition it provides a powerful resource for internal and external
knowledge sharing. The CogniStreamer' framework is used by industry
leaders such as Atlas Copco, Bekaert, Case New Holland, Cytec, Imec, Phillip
Morris, Picanol and ThyssenKrupp. CogniStreamer'