What comes to mind when you hear or see “design thinking?” The cognitive, strategic, and workable processes used to develop design concepts are not left to just designers and design teams. At its core, design thinking is a process used for creative problem-solving. When applied to the business world, design thinking has the power to shape and drive innovation. And it works. That’s why many large corporations have instilled the strategic mindset to help evolve their businesses. From IBM and MassMutual to Nike and Airbnb, many successful mainstream companies have heavily profited from the use of this methodology.

Design thinking is no longer a trendy buzzword with little relevance. It is now a well-structured business concept with proven results. A study from Adobe found that companies that encourage creativity are 3.5 times more likely to outperform the competition in relation to revenue growth. Salesforce incorporated design thinking in their sales team discovery process and found a 100% increase in revenue. So, what is design thinking, and how do you use it?

What are the Components of Design Thinking?

What does design thinking look like in the business arena? Let’s break it down. Overall, a design thinking approach is one that minimizes uncertainty and the risk of innovation. The core of this methodology is human-centric and asks the question, “What’s the human need behind this product/method/process/service?” This encourages businesses to focus their efforts on the people they’re creating for, therefore, helping them to understand and deliver to their target audiences.

“We must design for the way people behave, not for how we wish them to behave,” Donald A. Norman, Living With Complexity.

Design thinking is the fusion of what is desirable (from a human perspective), technologically achievable, and economically feasible. It helps to consider all parts of a problem or challenge to understand it holistically, steering projects clear of ambiguity and uncertainty.

The first step in design thinking is to identify the problem at hand. Whether the problem is unexpected or a planned innovation, pinpointing the “what” is the crucial first step. From there, the methodology leads teams to understand the “why,” “how,” and “what’s next” to instigate innovation to create the best possible outcome.

Five Stages of Design Thinking

1. Empathize

The first stage of the design process is to understand the perspective of the target audience/customer/consumer to identify and address the problem at hand. It is also a crucial step in the process to clearly understand and work with team members to strengthen team dynamics and improve the overall performance of a website to meet a common goal. This stage is all about gathering as much information as possible to prepare for development in the next step.

To do this, design thinkers are encouraged to cast aside all assumptions (because assumptions can stifle innovation!) about the problem, the consumers, and the world at large. This allows them to consider any possibilities about the customers and their needs objectively.

2. Define

Putting together all of the information gathered in the first stage, the next step is to define the problem. Careful analysis of observations made will be synthesized to pinpoint the core problem that needs to be addressed. The goal is to convert the defined problem into a tangible, human-centered statement, rather than focusing on technology, monetary returns, or specifics of a product.

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3. Ideate

In the third stage, information has been gathered, a problem has been clearly defined, and now it’s time to generate ideas around this data. You better understand your target audience and the ins and outs of the problem. How can you and your team think outside of the box to create alternative solutions to the issue you’ve identified? This is another massive brainstorm session. You collect as many ideas as possible at the start, so that by the end, your team can investigate and test them.

4. Prototype

It’s time to experiment! Through trial and error, your team identifies which of the possible solutions can best solve the identified problem(s). This typically will include scaled-down versions of the products or systems in question, which allows for proper investigation of the generated solutions.

5. Test

All of the work and information come together to test the product in the final stage. It’s important to note that this is still an interactive stage. Often, testing the product leads to redefining problems/solutions and a better understanding of the consumer. This stage allows for all details to be flushed out and refined to create the best solution possible.

Benefits of Design Thinking

The benefits of design thinking are plentiful. From improving team dynamics and productivity to reducing the cost of innovation and getting ahead of competitors, the methodology is a proven working process to create successful change.

Just look at the economic impact design thinking has had on IBM. They reported that the implementation of design thinking has increased its team efficiency by 75%, and it experienced a 301% return on their investment. As stated in the IBM Design Thinking Field Guide, “Our approach is to apply design thinking at the speed and scale the modern enterprise demands. It’s a framework for teaming and action. It helps our teams not only form intent but deliver outcomes — outcomes that advance the state of the art and improve the lives of the people they serve.”

How to Implement Design Thinking

Experts offer Design Thinking Workshops to help teams navigate the process and create successful change. This leadership is imperative, as design thinking is far from a linear path. As IDEO founder David Kelley explains it, “it’s a big mass of looping back to different places in the process.”

Once design thinking skills are learned, business leaders can incorporate them into team management to encourage a healthy, sustainable dynamic. This allows businesses to continuously question their products and practices, helping them to generate solutions in the most productive environment as possible.

Having a critical eye to question what needs to be done in order for employees to do their best work, how to ensure thought diversity to encourage creative and critical thinking, and how to empower employees to take action when necessary are imperative to maintaining a strong relationship with ongoing innovation–either for products and services or within company culture.

“The main tenant of design thinking is empathy for the people you’re trying to design for. Leadership is exactly the same thing–building empathy for the people you’re entrusted to help.” -David Kelley, Founder of IDEO.

Looking for a Design Thinking Workshop Facilitator or Design Thinking Training? Get in touch.

Voltage Control facilitates design thinking workshops, innovation sessions, and Design Sprints. Please reach out at info@voltagecontrol.com for a consultation.

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Innovation is the engine of new business. Without it there is no competition, there is no improvement, and there is no change. That’s because consumers enjoy seeing new inventions. They enjoy trying new things — especially products that improve their day-to-day lives — and discovering the bounds of what different industries can offer.

Hiring an innovation facilitator is one of the wisest things you can do.

That’s why hiring an innovation facilitator is one of the wisest things you can do. Companies should embrace innovation as a part of their core ideals; it’s about fostering a culture that drives ground-breaking ideas and pursuing new challenges.

An innovation facilitator can help you stay competitive in your market by looking to what’s next. They’re an investment in the future and a way to get an edge against your competition. So, what exactly can you expect from an innovation facilitator?

An Innovation Facilitator Will See Your Company For What It Is

Managers usually think they know what’s best for their companies. It’s only natural since they’re trained to lead and have a vision. They’re supposed to fall in love with what the organization represents and the products it makes.

But, that corporate idealism can actually hurt managers’ business decisions. Their bias can cause them to be blind to shortcomings in the company. Hiring an innovation facilitator can help reduce any bias managers may have. Innovation facilitators approach the company from a completely objective and unbiased viewpoint. By hiring one, you get the advantage of analyzing your company in a way you couldn’t before.

Innovation facilitators may recommend changes that weren’t considered before. For example, they may recommend rearranging how teams are structured or how key meetings take place. Coming with a fresh perspective, an innovation facilitator can see issues and blockers in a company that the internal team might miss.

Innovation Facilitators Plan For the Future

Markets, as well as entire industries, are constantly changing. Companies need to be at the forefront of this change if they want to stay ahead of their competition. To do that, they should consider hiring an innovation facilitator.

Since innovation facilitators work with many different companies, they have many different kinds of experiences. They can draw on these experiences to predict how industries may shift in the near future. They can also make recommendations to help the company change along with consumer trends. For example, they may recommend an auto repair company build a social media presence if it doesn’t already have one. This kind of recommendation would come from experience in other industries, where social media presence is important to survive.

Just By Hiring One, You’re Changing Your Company Culture

The most important part of any company is its culture. The way employees and managers interact needs to be conducive to a healthy work ethic. It also needs to be accepting of new ideas, from anyone at any rank.

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By investing in an innovation facilitator, you’re sending the message that you care about these kinds of things. By showing you’re willing to invest in innovation consulting, you’re saying you want people to feel comfortable thinking outside of the box.

The next steps would be following the recommendations the innovation facilitator may make. For example, innovation facilitators may identify an issue with how power is distributed in the company. They may notice that employees aren’t voicing new ideas out of fear. To address this, they may recommend managers adopt a new power structure and give employees a space to share their thoughts.

Managers should listen to recommendations like these because there are consequences for not following them. By not following the recommendations of a trained professional, you send the signal that you don’t care about the culture. It can demoralize employees since it shows you may not trust them.

Facilitators Are Trained — They Know What They’re Doing

It can be hard to let somebody into your company just to change it. It can feel risky and you may be afraid that after the facilitator leaves, it will be too hard to implement their suggestions.

Innovation is a messy, confusing process. If you’re used to working neatly with everything staying the same, you may be intimidated. It’s only natural to resist the things you may not fully understand.

Know that by hiring an innovation facilitator you are taking a crucial first step in addressing and fixing a problem.

Innovation Facilitators Do More Than Innovate — They Facilitate Success

Hiring an innovation facilitator gives you an edge against your competition and sets you up for success. Innovation facilitators can adapt to any industry and bring value. They address problems most people may not see and leave companies working better than ever before. When they’re done, the company isn’t just a workplace — it’s a cradle for new inventions, products, and ideas.

Contact us, and we can help you connect with an innovation facilitator who will ensure you change more than your company.

FAQ Section

How does facilitation training at Voltage Control improve leadership skills?
Our facilitation training focuses on developing leadership skills by equipping leaders with effective facilitation techniques. These leadership development programs help participants lead brainstorming sessions, manage innovation sessions, and overcome challenges for trainers, setting them up for long-term success.

What is the role of design thinking in your workshops?
We incorporate design thinking tools in our design thinking workshops to encourage creative problem-solving. Our design thinking facilitators and design thinking training facilitators guide teams through the entire process, from ideation to implementation, ensuring innovative solutions are developed for business innovation.

What kinds of innovation training does Voltage Control offer?
Voltage Control offers a range of innovation training programs, including online workshops and in-person innovation project workshops. These sessions focus on enhancing facilitation skills, tackling creative processes, and supporting innovation professionals to manage innovative products effectively.

How do your programs support business innovation and management?
Our programs for training in innovation management and innovative facilitation equip teams to manage digital product management teams and lead innovation project workshops. This includes tackling business challenges, streamlining the innovation process, and encouraging creative collaboration.

Why is innovation facilitation important for long-term success?
Innovative facilitation ensures that teams not only tackle immediate business challenges but also establish practices for long-term success. By engaging in innovation sessions, utilizing design thinking tools, and embracing innovative products, companies can continually adapt and lead in their industries.

The post Thinking Outside the Box: How an Innovation Facilitator Can Help Your Team appeared first on Voltage Control.