Building Your Coaching Toolkit - Innovation (19)

The Oxford Dictionary defines innovation as “a new method, idea, product, etc.”. Innovation is also about responding to changes, and doing things differently in the face of change and disruption. With this in mind, the landscape of coaching groups and teams around innovation is quite broad.

Innovation may have many layers of exploration, from innovating to create different products and services, to changing business models such as moving from in-person programming to virtual programming.

There are many ways to “mix things up” and make sure that every voice is in the room. In the virtual space, I regularly talk about the importance of using annotation, breakouts and polls as a way to get everyone’s voice represented. If you haven’t viewed this Effective Virtual Conversations call I hosted a while ago, please take a few minutes to view it now.

Innovation can be a very hot topic for exploration with both groups and teams. What are some of the different ways we can work around innovation?

Innovation is often seen as a very creative process, and an increasing number of professionals are being called on to innovate. This may require that group members spend their time in different ways and locations when they undertake this work.

There are several great resources for coaches to explore when looking to boost their toolkit around coaching for innovation including Coaching for Innovation: Tools and Techniques for Encouraging New Ideas in the Workplace – Cristina Bianchi and Maureen Steele. Check out their related website https://www.coachingforinnovation.com

For those that work with different visual cards, you might want to consider pulling out a deck (or two) and bringing it in as an icebreaker or "conversation sparker" for your next group or team coaching conversation. A few years ago I created the 40 Ways to Work with Visual Cards ebook and shared the following exercise around Innovation (check out #12 of the 40 Ways):

Innovation - Exercise #12 of The 40 Ways to Work with Visual Cards

Time needed : 10 - 30 minutes

Instructions:  Get group members to think about what they need to innovate around. 

With this in mind, have them select a card which represents a new perspective on the situation. Alternatively you could also randomly hand people a card. 

Ask each participant to take a deep look at the photo (individually) and reflect on: In the context of innovation, what does this image invoke for you? What’s significant? If you were to apply this image to what you are innovating around, what would be possible? 

After each person has done this, get each person to lay out their cards. Depending on group size, either have people pair up, or have everyone look at each card. Give a few minutes to reflect on what innovation “Spark” is created by each card. Have people write this down.

In pairs, or in the small group give each person the opportunity to speak about what they are realizing about what’s next for them, or what’s new for them, around innovation based on the photos. If you are working with a team, you may simply have each team member select a photo of what innovation represents or means to them and have them share it.

Collectively ask the team to make up their own story or synthesis of all the cards. "

Excerpt: 40 Ways to Work with Visual Cards, Copyright 2015. Britton. 

Questions around coaching for innovation:

1.       What’s another way of looking at that?

2.       What’s important about making a change?

3.       What does innovation mean for us?

4.       Who do we need to collaborate with for innovation?

5.       What mindsets do we need to shift in order to innovate more effectively?

6.       What will help us be successful?

Enjoy your week,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC – Potentials Realized 
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder 
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development)

Join us for an upcoming ICF CCE approved program - Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs), Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum ( 10 CCEs) or the Certified Facilitator Program (24 CCEs) for PlanDoTrack and the Coaching Business Builder starting this coming week.