In the latest episode of Innovation Insider, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Rob Seddon, a seasoned innovation consultant and design leader. Rob’s insights on how to drive meaningful corporate innovation and leverage AI to enhance business processes offer valuable takeaways for leaders navigating complex organisational challenges.
Iteration Over Perfection
One of Rob’s key beliefs is the importance of continuous iteration. Rather than focusing on achieving perfection with a single solution, Rob champions the idea of “10,000 iterations”—trying, refining, and learning from each step. This mindset encourages a flexible and adaptive approach to innovation, something that is crucial in fast-changing business environments.
Flexibility in Innovation Processes
Rob shared a hard-learned lesson from his time at IAG, where he developed a robust innovation process. While it worked well at IAG, he quickly realised that applying the same methodology to other companies didn’t yield the same success. Different cultures and organisational maturities require tailored approaches, and this adaptability has become a cornerstone of Rob’s work.
Breaking Down Silos for Successful Innovation
One of the biggest barriers to innovation, Rob pointed out, is siloed operations. Too often, innovation teams work in isolation from the rest of the organisation, leading to projects that fail to gain traction once handed off. Rob stressed the importance of cross-departmental collaboration to ensure that innovation efforts are integrated into the broader business and don’t lose momentum.
Practical AI Applications for Faster Innovation
Rob also touched on the role AI can play in speeding up innovation processes. He shared a fascinating example of using AI to conduct customer interviews—completing 30 interviews in under two days and receiving actionable insights immediately. While AI can’t replace human expertise, it can serve as a powerful tool to accelerate research and decision-making.
Final Thoughts
Rob’s approach to innovation is a blend of flexibility, collaboration, and the thoughtful application of emerging technologies like AI. His experiences offer valuable lessons for leaders looking to drive innovation in their own organisations, particularly when it comes to adapting processes and embracing new tools to stay ahead of the curve.