The UNITE Principles for successful Innovation Teams builds on Google’s Project Aristotle, which outlines the main things a team needs to thrive. We have set this work in context, tied the team’s work to the other layers of the culture model, and demonstrated how the principles align with the Mindset Spectrum.
The package
The case
As we think about creating a team culture that will promote innovation, we naturally think about values. What are the fundamental values that should serve as guidelines for how members of a team operate? This model, building upon Google’s five principles of flourishing teams, shows that we need to account for all of the aspects of the Mindset Spectrum when creating a comfortable and productive team. When we keep these guidelines in mind, it becomes easier to imagine rituals and processes that support them.
The mechanics
In 2012, Google embarked on a multiyear journey to discover the key factors contributing to a team’s success. They called the effort Project Aristotle, referring to the philosopher’s dictum that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Unsurprisingly, Google found that a thriving team had less to do with who was on it than with the atmosphere inside the team. They broke their conclusions into five basic categories. These categories map well onto the Mindset Spectrum. The most important principle is psychological safety. Do team members feel safe expressing their opinions, disagreeing with each other, and being themselves? Is there a punitive or an experimental ethos? After that comes dependability, clarity, meaningfulness, and impact. This demonstrates that none of the mindsets are better or worse than others. Instead, each is necessary to support the others. We’ve added “purpose” as the last principle because a teal mindset prioritizes not just that work gets done but that we are literally working on something purposeful.
The purpose
What is the goal of the model?
Creating a safe and productive team environment. It is always easier to build structures when simple principles guide you. This tool uses data-driven research to outline the hierarchy of needs in a group so that we can use these guidelines as we build our culture.
What people say
Richard Cobie, CEOReviewed on 15 July 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
I completely re-evaluated the role of innovation in business growth: before reading this book I have to admit I thought it only entailed product new features and technologies enhancements, while now I see it has everything to do with meeting customer needs and uncovering a business USP, which automatically translates in sales! Could not recommend it more!
Janette Lavalier, Innovation Professor and ConsultantReviewed on 15 July 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
Unlike most business innovation books I read over the last years (and even decades) when reading How to create innovation you immediately understand the authors have been there, innovating and transforming some of the world’s most amazing brands. Great work!
Karl Meckel, Change Development ManagerReviewed on 18 July 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
Not only this book offers the most comprehensive innovation and business change overview but it really helps you take the next step, driving you step by step from theory to practice (also with super useful background notes and driving questions)
Franz Hellstrom, Head of CultureReviewed on 2 Aug 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
I really enjoyed the whole book, but mostly the culture chapter, mainly because I always failed to acknowledge its major role in favouring or inhibiting business growth. Loved the graphics that helped connect all the dots in a visually appealing (and way easier) way.
Satoru Fukuda, Chief Strategy OfficerReviewed on 13 Aug 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
We’been willing to innovate our business for some years now, but then we always got stuck before we even started, because basically we had no idea where to start…This book helped us do just that: find the right starting point with guiding questions and an incredibly comprehensive innovation overview.
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