As year-end approaches, innovation managers often face the challenge of accelerating innovation projects to show meaningful results. Pilots that once held promise may be stalled, facing organizational inertia or roadblocks. By focusing on small, manageable experiments and leveraging a network of champions, you can unblock stalled projects, drive momentum, and deliver impactful results before year-end.
Here’s a guide to help you revive and accelerate innovation projects to achieve real progress, even under tight deadlines.
Start Small to Accelerate Innovation Projects Quickly
One effective way to accelerate innovation projects is by breaking them down into smaller, manageable tests rather than attempting a large-scale rollout. These “micro-experiments” provide quick, actionable feedback, helping you identify what works and what doesn’t without committing extensive resources too early.
Case Study: Streamlining a New Quality Control Process
Consider a team piloting an automated quality control system in manufacturing. Initially set for rollout across multiple sites, the project hit roadblocks—a shortage of skilled technicians, software glitches, and resistance from operations. Rather than pushing forward, the innovation manager refocused the project on a series of small tests at a single site. These micro-experiments revealed necessary adjustments for a broader rollout, saved resources, and increased stakeholder confidence by showing steady, measurable progress instead of a stalled initiative.
Leverage Your Network of Champions
A robust network of internal champions can be invaluable for accelerating innovation projects. Innovation leaders understand the value of new ideas, can troubleshoot internal challenges, and rally support. Tapping into this network allows you to create a ripple effect, building momentum and breaking down resistance across departments.
For example, if your project is delayed due to resistance from a particular department, enlist a champion within that team. This person can be an ambassador, helping colleagues understand the project’s goals and benefits. In one case, an innovation manager faced pushback from the sales team when introducing a customer feedback tool. By enlisting a respected champion from sales, the manager was able to communicate the tool’s benefits more effectively, ultimately winning over the team and accelerating project progress.
Embrace Learning Over Perfection
One of the keys to accelerating innovation projects is shifting from a focus on flawless execution to prioritizing continuous learning and adaptation. Encourage your team to see each small experiment as a stepping stone, rather than an all-or-nothing test, to gather insights and make adjustments quickly.
In a financial services firm, an innovation manager was piloting a digital onboarding tool. Integration challenges with legacy systems led to setbacks, and the project was close to being shelved. Instead, the team pivoted to a “test and learn” approach, focusing on integration with a single department. Through these smaller experiments, the team gained essential insights, ultimately helping them refine the rollout and accelerate the project’s success.
Engage Decision-Makers at Key Points
Accelerating innovation projects often require approval and resources from decision-makers. Rather than waiting for major milestones, keep decision-makers informed with concise updates at critical points. This incremental approach builds their trust and understanding, increasing the likelihood of quick approvals when additional resources or funds are needed.
For instance, instead of requesting a large budget at the outset, consider asking for incremental funding tied to specific outcomes from each experiment. This connects the investment with clear, tangible progress, creating a more collaborative relationship with decision-makers and making it easier to accelerate the project.
Share and Celebrate Quick Wins
When working to accelerate innovation projects, it’s tempting to focus solely on future goals. But small wins are powerful—they build momentum, increase visibility, and reinforce the project’s value across the organization. Each successful experiment, stakeholder win, or minor milestone is an opportunity to showcase progress and gain support.
Encourage innovation champions to share these wins within their networks, keeping the project visible and relevant. For instance, if one experiment shows promising results, share that outcome in team meetings or newsletters. These quick wins boost morale and make the project’s progress clear to others, accelerating buy-in from across the organization.
Moving Forward: Accelerate Innovation Projects with Small Steps
By focusing on incremental experiments, leveraging a network of champions, and keeping stakeholders engaged, you can accelerate innovation projects and achieve meaningful results before year-end. This strategic, people-centered approach doesn’t require perfect conditions or large budgets—just a willingness to adapt, learn, and celebrate each step forward.
As the year winds down, remember that each small win contributes to the larger goal of driving innovation. With this adaptable strategy, you can transform stalled pilots into success stories, building momentum and delivering value well into the future.
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