4 steps to create capacity for your innovation.

Last week I discussed SAFE changes for innovation. These are S(tart), A(lign), F(ocus), and E(xpect). Small businesses, and even many small teams within larger businesses, often ask me, “How can we start to initiate new innovation projects, when we don’t have capacity?” A key to “Start” is to open capacity for innovation, in terms of time, effort, and money. Here’s one simple 4-step approach:

1. Put up a large Post-It note sheet on the wall, with markers nearby. Also get some red, yellow, and gree stickers.

2. Every time you do a task, write it on the Post-It note.

3. After 1 week, have people rate tasks on two axes: Profitability and Enjoyment (P&E).

4. For any task that rates low on BOTH P&E, place a red sticker. For any task that rates high on both, place a green sticker.

4a. Eliminate the red sticker items as much as possible -- even if you need to bend a bit to eliminate. This is where you can open capacity.

4b. Do more of the green sticker items. These are energizing and profitable.

4c. For the yellow sticker items, take a bit more data before you decide.