Suzy Engwall

@ahmed Bousuwa I agree to a degree. I do think there are ways to inspire creative thinking and innovation. For example, when trying to pull ideas out from those who don’t realize that they are, in fact, more creative than they think - I have used “tools” and seen them work in real time. I guess it also depends on your definition of the word “tool”. If a tool is asking customers for what they want and then designing to their needs then I say that’s part of it? That said, I appreciate your input. I always value other peoples opinions. Keep innovating no matter how you choose to do it!!!

I have seen misalignment be overlooked because a potential partner was bringing something needed to the table (like funding). This usually does not end well. Don’t make this mistake. It will only set you further back.

One of the main reasons new products fail is because they fail to achieve product market fit. Using design thinking and its iterative approach will ensure your validating your customers needs at each step along the way. It’s very important to never stop asking for feedback regardless of how big you get.

As one who teaches and practices design thinking, I can't emphasize this enough, the only way to truly understand a problem from multiple perspectives is to talk to those you are solving the problem for. Everyone experiences things in different ways so it's really important to get your future customers input when you are defining your problem.

I openly look for those who are naturally curious. It's usually pretty easy to spot. Do they ask a lot of questions? Do they make suggestions or present their thoughts while also being open to hearing other perspectives. Do they look at a problem and want to find a way to solve it or would they rather pass it on for someone else to fix? There are ways you can ask questions to get some of this out during an interview. It just takes a little creativity.

Depending on how you want to share there are some great idea management software systems out there. I personally like BrightIdea as it has many features and tools that allow you to not only source for new ideas but also run campaigns, events and more. The tool can be open for people to see ideas and talk about them or it can be closed so ideas can be kept quiet for as long as you want.