Getting Innovation Right: How Leaders Leverage Inflection Points to Drive Success

Q & A with Seth Kahan, author of Getting Innovation Right

As I worked hand-in-hand with leaders on their change initiatives, I began to notice that those who succeeded were also adept at introducing new products, services, and ideas into the marketplace. I participated in many of their innovation initiatives and discovered seven key activities the successful leaders practiced with rigor. After I saw firsthand how important these key activities were for success, I wanted to share them with my clients and readers. That's why I wrote Getting Innovation Right.

My approach to organizational change works from the inside out, as opposed to top-down or bottom-up. Effective, lasting change is only possible by first engaging key stakeholders. When everyone in the organization understands the change, they act in a concerted way, even in impossible-to-predict circumstances. The key to sustained change is active engagement of all key stakeholders. The same is true of innovation.

In today's market, mission-driven leaders don't have the time or resources to play around with ideas that die on the vine. They want to go to market, build a presence, and have the resources to turn an idea into something special that will be valued by customers, members, and constituents. If innovation does not produce positive impact in a sustainable way, they see it as a waste of time. Even in research or creative labs, experimentation must lead to results of some kind. Results determine whether a company and a leader are successful.

An inflection point is a decisive shift in the market that either sends you up or down. If you don't see inflection points coming, they can be jarring--and even lethal. But when you learn about the different kinds of inflection points and develop some expertise in using their momentum, you have an edge on everyone else.

Most leaders feel they are at the mercy of major market shifts. Successful innovators understand inflection points and they actively look for them to put their energy to good use. Once you can anticipate an inflection point, you can use it to fuel your innovation. Getting Innovation Right shows you how to do that in detail.

Leaders often fall short when it comes to innovation. Getting Innovation Right provides templates, step-by-step instructions, techniques, tools, and practical guidance on how to maximize your innovation' s chances of success in the market. The book helps leaders invest in the leadership talent required to develop successful new products and services, understand how market research can help any new offering, take advantage of market disruptions, discover what customers will be compelled to buy, and accelerate market acceptance.

Anyone who faces the pressures of the market, whether that means working with internal customers, delivering on a mission, transforming services to meet a changing market, or developing products. If you need to create more, better, or new offerings, this book is for you.