Brewing Innovation & Percolating Change

Beyond coffee, surviving in your job requires innovation. Sure, showing up on time helps, but companies want people whose contributions set the business apart from the competition or improve operations. So ask yourself these questions: Are you helping your employer grow the business? What are you doing to enhance your status?

The coin’s other side is that business is harder these days and innovation is critical to survival. A great way to maintain job stability is to be the one who helps the company remain stable. Since there is rarely a silver bullet to save the day, small improvements and gap-filling ideas add up to a brighter picture, and maybe a fatter paycheck.

Several times a day, ask yourself questions like, “What can I contribute that sets the company – and me – apart?”, “What can I do that makes a difference in the ‘bottom line’?”, and, “What opportunities are we overlooking?” It doesn’t have to be a Herculean effort, just investing some of your time and brain cycles to look more critically at what goes on.

Some think hunkering down and staying out of sight is the best policy, but here’s why that’s not necessarily true: I worked at a local company that has been, and still is going through wave-after-wave of layoffs. The company’s local workforce is less than half the size it was when I joined and many jobs went overseas. The folks I know who are still there escaped the hatchet for one of two reasons: 1. They work like Trojans and are high-output individuals, or; 2. They have a track record of innovation and usable ideas. Yes, a few are just lucky or really charming, but that doesn’t always work.

So, what does this have to do with coffee? I have the coffee maker you see above and I think it's the greatest one ever. Why? Notice there’s no pot - it doesn't have one. The coffee flows into a reservoir and then you place your mug underneath where a pot would be, push a lever and your cup fills. Best of all, it brews one awesome cup of coffee. No, it's not like an $11,000 Clover coffee maker, but my less-than-cultured palate finds the results quite good.

Is it a big seller? Well … no, and it’s a bit hard to find. It’s a little pricey, too. Doesn’t sound like it’s perched to become a market leader, does it? On the other hand, everyone who visits notices it and becomes curious. We talk, they recognize Cuisinart as a good, dependable brand with nice styling and, of those folks, many have bought Cuisinart appliances. The coffee maker is different enough to make itself and the brand stand out in prospect’s minds, and to motivate them to invest in their products. Are there things in your business that can be reformulated?

In 1899, U.S. Commissioner of Patents Charles H. Duell said, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” Do you think that way at your work place? Don't becuase, after all, the lowly coffee pot was improved. Try to take a fresh look at what is going on there. Do barriers to innovation exist, like a manager who hates change? If so, try to involve them early and with tidbits of information.

Compare them to the Grand Canyon: It took a long time for the water to carve the canyon, and you might need extra patience, too. Chip away with questions like, “Why do we do it this way?” “Had you ever thought about … ?” It doesn’t hurt to let them think that some of your ideas are theirs – if they shine, you’re likely to benefit from their light. Asking them questions that guide them to your answer lets them think it’s their idea. Once that’s done, you can build on it with suggestions and ideas to foster a partnership for innovation.

It’s hard to innovate using the same data you’ve collected for years. That’s a “can’t see the forest for the trees” situation. Some of the best investment advice I ever got was, "Look around. Before investing in a company, see where they are in the lives of their customers."

The true meaning soon dawned on me: Ask folks what they think about a company and its products or services. How often do they use them? Do they tell their friends? If they're really into it you'll get a good report, or even a glassy-eyed rant extolling the virtues. Ask your customers to lunch or coffee and listen to their thoughts and feelings. If nothing else, call them and say, “Just checking in … .” Customers usually have a clear eye toward your business and know what others say, too, so make sure to keep a journal of their input and plans on what to do with that intelligence.

Then you can go to your manager (or shareholders) with fresh, documented input and confidently present your ideas based on real data, not just a hunch or an idea. You become the expert and a thought leader in your company, and someone with a much better shot at job security and brighter prospects.