To successfully come up with an innovation idea that will lead to a unique new product innovation, one has to put much time in planning and brainstorming any useful thoughts or ideas, and stay focused on a mark or goal. One also needs confidence in their own ideas, and courage to think the ideas through and not dismiss them as not being viable. At the same time, the most important thing is not have too many goals at the same time, but work at one goal at a time to ensure maximum results.
One of the key things to consider before formulating ideas is to evaluate your audience or market for your innovation. Ask yourself questions like “what is that one thing that my customers or audience would find irresistible?” “What will appeal to most of the customers or audience? What would they would love to see?”
Listening to your audience is the most important thing, since they are the ones who will end up using the products or judging the success of your new product innovation. Of course, this does not necessarily mean approaching them with your innovation idea, but considering the product they like or would like most, which you can tell from paying attention to what they do. For example, what do they purchase most? What profits them most? What would make their lives easier?
Always keep in mind that your idea does not have to be complicated, it may be a simple idea and a simple product that will make the lives of people so much easier or that the consumers will be fascinated by. May be the simplicity of the product will make it stand out.
Sometimes you may have to get a listening ear to your innovation idea, someone or people who will be honest and straightforward with you to tell you if your ideas will work or not. These people will have to be experienced and quite knowledgeable, and not people pleasers who will tell you what you want to hear. You may have to involve them in the process of formulating ideas, tell them what you want and ask them to give you ideas on how they would see the process being implemented. Let them think, research and help you find a viable and effective way to implement your ideas, to make the innovation a success.
Successfully managing the new product innovation process and not the ideas, is an important aspect to get you moving. Getting an idea is one thing, but once this is done, do not dwell on the idea, but rather move on to focus on the development process. Set out stages and work plans on how you will go through the development process, which may involve planning cycles and developing scorecards that will help evaluate results.
Failure should not stop you or prevent you from trying again, which brings in the question of determination. You have to be determined to see your innovation see the light of the market, otherwise it will die off as just an idea. Work towards the goals you formulated, sticking to your work plan with discipline to ensure that you do not sit at a certain phase for long but that you are always making project towards your end product.
