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# Lessons Learned From Creating Innovation Teams
- URL: https://www.philmckinney.com/lessons-learned-from-creating-innovation-teams/
- Published: 2008-07-13T16:52:55.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-01T14:10:32.000Z
- Author: Phil McKinney
- Tags: Past Shows, Studio Sessions, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-03-26 05:08

Download [KI\_20080713.mp3](http://media.libsyn.com/media/philmckinney/KI%5F20080713.mp3?ref=philmckinney.com)

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### Segment 1: Lessons Learned From Creating Innovation Teams

1. Changing the organizations culture  
  - People will resist
  - Be prepared for corporate anti-bodies
  - Secure deep management support
  - Win by example
  - Find/train/support innovation evangelists
2. Define the metrics  
  - Management needs proof of impact and success
  - Secure broad agreement on the right metrics (management, finance, operations, etc)
  - Metrics that have worked for me (not exhaustive):  
    - Gross Margin impact from R&D
    - Ideas in pipeline
    - % of projects killed
    - ROI on pipeline (needs years to prove out)
    - Average time from idea to impact
    - Value of the innovation funnel
3. Find Innovation Champions  
  - Its not just the idea …
  - You need the passion of the innovation champion
  - Passion is a key success factor for any given innovation program
  - You can build a team around a champion.
  - Its very hard to create the champion.
  - Champion does not necessarily mean leader
4. Reward Failures & Successes  
  - Define reward structure
  - Don’t penalize failure
  - For success and failure, make the reward public
  - For failures, success if you learn from them.
  - Be transparent on all projects
5. Adapt To Your Organization  
  - Innovation approaches is NOT a one size fits all
  - Listen to experts (blogs, podcasts, books, etc)
  - Learn from those who have developed their innovation organizations
  - Try it yourself
  - Adapt to your organization/culture