Innovation role – Providing analytical thinking and objectivity
Mindset – Critical
Investigator’s strengths:
- Systematically researching, analysing and assessing ideas
- Making sure ideas are useful, not just novel
- Understanding the importance of testing and validating ideas before moving into implementation
- Being willing to test their thinking with customers and stakeholders
- Creating a culture where exploration and questioning is encouraged
- Encouraging other people to think things through carefully and systematically
The image illustrates the mindset of Investigate, Critical. The orientation, whilst still exploratory, needs to start to converge and be more analytical in approach.
Investigator’s challenges
Being analytical is one of the strengths of an investigator, but sometimes their strengths can backfire.
- They may continually search for more validation before they are willing to make a commitment. This can lead to a new initiative getting immobilised or stuck
- They can get lost in the detail and lose sight of the bigger picture; why they are innovating and the overall PURPOSE
- They can be dismissive of ideas if they don’t think they are feasible, being too quick to judge something that is untried or tested
Investigators need to make sure that, in their research, testing and analysis, they do not lose the originality of the idea, but instead experiment with it to improve its likelihood of success. If not, the novelty that once made it unique, and possibly innovative, could be lost.
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH INVESTIGATORS
Depending on the combination of ‘I’s on someone’s profile, here are a few do’s and don’ts that will help you communicate more effectively with investigators.
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Talk about detail and be thorough in your approach | Be haphazard or lack rigour and logic |
| Encourage them to test their ideas with customers or those who would be involved in refining ideas | Jump into action without finding out whether the idea meets a customer or market need |
| Present your ideas in a systematic way and invite critical thinking | Be overly attached to an idea just because you created it; be willing to stand back and invite scrutiny; see their critical thinking as helpful |
| Make space for them to research and explore an idea with depth | Crowd their thinking with too many ideas without giving them time to explore |