We’ve
briefly looked at what it takes to have the Innovator’s DNA in one of our
previous articles but now we have to deal with the fact that innovators can
only be responsible for the beginning stage of any innovation process and along
the line, we would need to execute any innovative idea that has been generated
and this is where we need Executors.
Executors
are not just good at reviewing ideas for innovation but they actually follow
the idea through to implementation. They are not just observers of innovative
idea but executors of those great ideas. When we talk of Executors, these are
the ones that make a non-realistic idea to become realistic. These are the ones
who might not understand the source of the idea but are willing to go
extra-mile to bring something of substance, out of that idea. They might not be
so good at coming up with innovative ideas but they are good at bringing the
virtual substance (innovative idea) to become a real product or enhanced
services.
We cannot be
talking of innovators without considering that some people are actually
responsible for implementing those ideas to get through to completion stage. In
the process of completing the cycle of innovation, we will identify skill sets
for an Executor to successfully bring an innovative idea to completion.
Hal Gregersen and Jeff Dyer described it in a very simple way
that I found so interesting. They concluded that Executors possess some skills
that set them apart and here are some of those skills that can foster the
completion of an innovation process in any organization:
1. Analyzing
2. Planning
3. Detail-oriented
4. Self-discipline
ANALYSIS:
Executors
need to analyze their findings or the result from the researches, carried out
on any subject before drawing out a conclusion that the idea is viable,
reliable and executable. Innovation analysis can be done in such ways, so as to
encourage the findings with the aim of the innovation. The team responsible for
innovating need to collate data, logic, realism and generate facts from the
figure accumulated, in other to make decision as a result of their findings. At
this point is when you consider the requirement standard of the sponsor with
that of the end-users, if the product is flexible enough for use or if it would
not affect the present delivery of service. An innovative idea is presently not
real (i.e. virtual substance). But how do we take this idea to become a product
or improved service, without understanding the available resources and steps to
take, in order to deliver a great end-product to users.
PLANNING:
In the
process of executing a project and carry out a task, it is expected to plan the
steps to be taken, in other to reach the finish line. If the execution process
is not planned properly, if will lead to an innovative idea being executed
improperly and it automatically eludes the idea of being great. That is the
importance of adhering to rigorous steps in the execution stage and executors
are responsible for that, hence they need to possess the planning skill.
DETAIL-ORIENTED:
Every detail
of a proposed innovation must be specific and detailed enough for any member of
the project team or stakeholder, to read and understand the progress of the
project.
In the
process of following an execution plan for an innovation, there could be some
changes that will have to be thoroughly managed and communicated to other members
of the project team, so that they are all aware of the situation and can act
accordingly, if there’s need for that.
In other
words, communication is an essential element to every innovation and this can
only be achieved by being detailed in all our communications and request for
changes to project/product execution plan.
SELF-DISCIPLINE:
Anyone can
come up with an innovative idea but not everyone is capable, courageous and skilful
enough to execute an innovative idea. It is therefore paramount that an
Executor possesses the attribute of self-discipline, which can serve as a form
of motivation to carry on with the innovation process, through to completion
stage.
At the
beginning stage of every innovation, it can seem very exciting and interesting
but as the project progresses and deliverables are expected to be presented for
testing, it starts getting awkward and beyond expectation. This is when an
Executor needs to exercise some patience, by constantly going through the execution
plan to understand every line of actions in the innovation process.
Self-discipline demands that an Executor stays rigorously with the execution plan
and only make changes when the team must have agreed that, it is the best
decision to make.
In conclusion, we've all heard about CEOs (Chief Executive Officer) or Directors of companies and the first thing that comes to mind is that they lead various companies to become successful; but when we actually look closely at the name Chief Executive Officer, it simply means that the person is Chief Executor and he/she is responsible for executing at least one of the numerous ideas that would be presented before him/her, as CEO.
The same thing goes with us as Team leaders, Managers, Entrepreneurs and Individuals (i.e. The Director of your own personal life). We are also Chief Executive Officers of our different teams or any platform that we are leading, since we are responsible for executing ideas and making decisions to execute innovative ideas.
So, it is absolutely necessary that we measure our skills against these skills set out for 'CHIEF EXECUTORS'.
Now that we’ve
been able to identify the skills set for an Executor and we’ve already looked
at the skills of an Innovator in one of our previous articles “INNOVATOR’s
DNA”, we would like you to access yourself against all these skills and
verify if you’re thoroughly an Innovator or more of an Executor and if you simply
fall in between both of them; we have another term for you, which will be
discussed later in another article on this blog site.
Keep reading
and recommending our blog site to your friends, networks and business associates.
By Temitayo Oyediran,
Director, Teesoft Limited.
(Teesoft
Limited is a consulting and coaching company with expertise in project
management, service management, business analysis and personal/corporate
coaching.)
