Dagmar Cole

• How is your presentation relevant to the theme of this year’s BBC conference: Innovation in the Fast Lane?

A 2016 Harvard Business Review Study of the traits of innovative leaders identified Innovative leaders value “doing the right thing”, what is best for the customer and the company, even if it’s an unpopular decision. Additional critical skills of innovators is, they can effectively communicate and persuade others to support their contrarian view. And do all this quickly!

Innovative leaders are not afraid to go against consensus if the decision is in the best interest of all but that is difficult to practice in real life for many. Fear of failure or ridicule inhibits the BA from being innovative: does the BA accept the stakeholder opinion the option is not feasible and possibly lose opportunity or dare to face ridicule pursuing what is viewed as an unfeasible alternative? How does the BA persuade the stakeholders that the decision is not what they expected but is the optimal course of action?

My presentation will strengthen innovative leadership skills by providing the BA a process for making difficult decisions to include how to frame the problem, recognize and overcome psychological barriers, and provides a proven analysis methodology. The result is a solid, defensible decision that can be presented to stakeholders and executives that can be accomplished in a timely manner.

• What are your top tips for companies or employees wishing to innovate?

The projects or tasks that other people are running away from, the innovative leader is running toward. People shy away from those projects because they are afraid to fail and do not want to be viewed by their management or peers as failures. We allow our perceptions of failure to prevent us from being successful. The innovative leader does not view efforts as “success” or “failure” but as opportunities to learn and grow. We should adopt the attitude of innovators: “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try — Unknown”