Finding Inspiration from Outside

As a manager, you should develop external networks of people who can help provide ideas...

In addition to benchmarking by observing other companies, you may choose to collaborate with them directly to develop new ideas. As a manager, you should develop external networks of people who can help provide ideas--those with specialized knowledge, for example.

You can also work closely with lead users--clients, customers, or employees at the forefront of innovation--to develop new products and services. A final source of ideas are your own mistakes, and those of your competitors. When a project flops, or a team under performs, examine how this came about and consider what innovations could protect you against similar failures.

ACTION POINT: Use customers, competitors and your own mistakes to find new ideas.