The Rules of Innovation with Robert Brands

posted by David Wolf on Jun 21, 2010 | Comments (0) | Permalink | Trackback URL

Joining us on the line to tell us about how he created this vibrant culture of innovation at Airspray, and how he helps other entrepreneurs do it, is the author of the book, Roberts Rules of Innovation, (Wiley) is Robert Brands-Robert, welcome to the program….

1. Why is sustained innovation really a matter of survival for a business? Why not simply create 1 product, do it well, grow sales, and be done with it!

2. Take us back to an earlier time in your career—the story of Airspray. What did the beginnings look and feel like, and how do you take a small, Dutch dispensing company and grow it with a promise of new product innovations every year, ultimately shaping it into a large, multi-national public organization?

3. Let’s walk some of the KEY through Robert’s Rules of Innovation-this is a guide with imperatives that you have created and applied through your own management journeys…
1. Inspire, lead, and drive the process
2. Manage risk, without letting fear of failure kill innovation
3. Create a formalized New Product Development (NPD) process—an absolute must
4. Convince others to work outside their comfort zone
5. Build value for your Innovation
6. Instill accountability-one of the most important of Robert’s Rules of Innovation
7. Properly hire, train, and coach-to create, reinforce, and enhance your company’s culture and mindset
8. Stay open to new ideas

FILED IN: Creativity & Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Green and Sustainable, Leadership, Management, Project Management, New Thinking, Technology