The Innovation Formula

CHAPTER 5 TEAM SUPPORTIVENESS ‘What did you say you were called?' and other factors that influence teamwork

I recently worked with a leadership team within a national retailer. I was brought in to run a multiday workshop to help them, among other things, refine their innovation strategy. It was one of the most challenging three days I have had at Inventium. I'm fairly lucky at Inventium, as the vast majority of our clients are really smart, passionate people. They care deeply about innovation and making a positive difference to their organisation and the industry they play in. But this team was different.

First, they didn't listen to each other. About nine or ten times per day, the team would be arguing about something and then someone would speak up and say ‘You are both saying the same thing'. That is, they were both arguing exactly the same point, but because they failed to listen to each other, they hadn't realised it. Rather than listen to each other, it was as if people were simply waiting in line to talk.

Second, almost every single strategy or idea suggested was shot down. Ideas were met with retorts such as ‘We tried that last year and it didn't work' or ‘That will never get the support of the wider business' or ‘We won't be able to get the resources to execute that'. And when certain strategies and ideas did get up, individuals who did not support them simply zoned out because they hadn't got their own way.

Having teams that are open, trusting and supportive of ...