Ask dumb questions, embrace mistakes — and other lessons on innovation | Dave Raggio
Nov 19, 2024
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Dave Raggio, Vice President at Intuit, shares his insights on innovation learned from leading a skunkworks team. He emphasizes the importance of embracing mistakes and the power of collaboration. Raggio discusses how asking 'dumb' questions can enhance communication and drive creativity within a corporation. He also highlights the challenges of implementing new initiatives and the critical role of careful decision-making in achieving successful outcomes. His lessons serve as a guide for anyone looking to innovate within a larger organization.
Building informal connections within a company is essential for fostering support and collaboration to effectively advance innovative ideas.
Encouraging a judgment-free environment for asking questions helps navigate corporate complexities and enhances the value of diverse perspectives.
Deep dives
The Power of Socializing Your Vision
Fostering connections within a company is vital for advancing innovative ideas effectively. Engaging with colleagues early and often helps in building support and understanding, which is crucial for success. Rather than working in isolation, creating informal interactions, like coffee breaks or happy hours, can help clarify your vision while simultaneously acknowledging the workloads of others. Such human connections turn transactional relationships into collaborative partnerships, ultimately facilitating smoother project growth and development.
Emphasizing Active Listening and Collaboration
Listening to team members is essential for navigating the complexities of corporate projects and avoiding pitfalls of overconfidence. When encountering differing opinions, it is critical to recognize that those labeled as blockers can often provide insights that are vital for a project's success. Implementing sessions for asking questions in a judgment-free environment encourages a culture of curiosity and shared understanding, fostering innovation. By valuing diverse perspectives, individuals can avoid misunderstandings that might otherwise jeopardize the outcome of their initiatives.
To launch new initiatives within the confines of a large corporation, you'll need to work with the system, not against it, says "intrapreneur" Dave Raggio. He shares three lessons on innovation he learned the hard way — so you don't have to. (Made in partnership with Intuit)