Welcome to the exciting journey of innovation and product development! In this blog post, we delve into the fascinating story behind My Trusty —a remarkable case study showcasing innovation within the NHS. Originally designed for patients undergoing plastic surgery over two decades ago, this non-commercial cream has undergone a remarkable transformation to become a beloved product for customers.
Join me as we explore the backstory of My Trusty and uncover the sparks of innovation that can ignite even in the simplest of situations. To unravel the secrets behind this brand's success, I'll draw upon the groundbreaking research of Hal Gregersen, Clayton Christensen, and Jeff Dyer in their book "The Innovator's DNA." Through eight years of exploratory study, they identified five crucial "discovery skills" that set innovative leaders apart from the rest.
Questioning: Posing queries that challenge common wisdom.
Observing: Scrutinizing the behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors to identify new ways of doing things.
Networking: Meeting people with different ideas and perspectives.
Experimenting: Constructing interactive experiences and provoking unorthodox responses to see what insights emerge.
Associating: Drawing connections between questions, problems, or ideas from unrelated fields.
In this blog post, we'll focus on the first discovery skill—Questioning—and examine its profound connection to my work developing the brand - My Trusty. By challenging conventional wisdom and posing thought-provoking queries, we'll see how this skill opens doors to fresh ideas and unique solutions.
But that's not all! I'll also provide you with valuable resources, including videos and research articles, offering deeper insights into the innovative process. Additionally, I highly recommend "The Innovator's DNA" to anyone seeking to cultivate their own capacity for innovation.
I'm immensely grateful to Hal Gregersen, a true advocate of innovation, for his unwavering support and interest in my work as an innovator. Check out this video for more details on his approach.
Stay tuned for my upcoming blog posts, where we'll explore the remaining discovery skills and how they relate to my work with My Trusty and developing my consultancy and coaching business.
Let's embark on this transformative journey together and unlock the secrets of building products that customers truly love.