Lean startup in a corporate environment
Try,Execute,Fail,Succeed,Learning,Fail,Execute, Learn,Fail,Succeed. It is a crazy loop created probably for people with a hard head. I have started working with lean startup method 6 months a go. I truly believe that the mindset is something corporates seem to lack and yes there is always that picture that corporates know how to execute. But even that is changing.
Innovation Centre
We started in the innovation centre 7 months a go and in this period of time the mindset changed from exploration to execution. What does this mean in practical terms. Basically this, my manager asks me what is your definition of done, what have you learned, what suprised you, what does this mean for the customer or the bank. Based on these learning we explore. So there is a shift in dreaming of innovation to validated learning and creating.
Lean startup is a means to end, probably not the only out there. I am still figuring out on which level this could be used. For instance, there is difference in horizontal 1,2,3 when it comes to capabilities, mindset and organization. Second, you need to coach and train people. You have to be sensitive about what department are you dealing with. What problems are you solving. What kind of people are working there? It could mean that you need more creative brainstorming and more design thinking proces to guide people on different levels.
Dont kill creativity
I think lean will guide people to be more concrete but you need to give people space to create and sometimes creativity needs more time and/or less validations. A hunch or feeling could lead to beautiful things. But if you dont have a lot of creative people in your team it could mean that this exercise makes them insecure and a more validated learning is more in place.
I try to be have more focus as a lean (startup) / agile coach to help people in different areas. The skills to coach people also have to do with experience in customer development, product development, design thinking and last but not least feeling oke with failing. You need to take away the insecurities that occur during the proces.
