By Sandra Phillips

Speaker, author, CEO, SandraPhillipsPresents.com

Innovation has been called the number one leadership issue today. It represents the single most powerful way that companies can differentiate their products or services from those of their competitors.

Unfortunately, most companies do little to foster innovation, particularly team innovation. Such failure in the care and feeding of new ideas is potentially fatal in today’s highly competitive global marketplace. High performance teams are still the best tool organizations have for creating and nurturing new ideas.

While team members work together toward a common goal, individuals still must play their separate parts in the process. As organizations rely more and more on teams to innovate, problem-solve, produce and compete at the speed of change, leaders must capitalize on individual approaches to group processes. And for teams to optimize their performance, leaders must insist on defining and valuing the four kinds of team players who are needed for innovation.

1. CREATOR – The Creator generates fresh, original ideas and concepts and looks for solutions that may be unusual and unique. The Creator recognizes alternatives and perceives the “big picture.” He or she enjoys the creative process and is very open to change.
   
   
2. ADVANCER – The Advancer moves the concept forward, deriving satisfaction from the process of promoting the ideas and removing roadblocks to its success. The Advancer is a linear thinker and enjoys initiating change.
   
   
3. REFINER – The Refiner challenges the concept, often playing the “devil’s advocate.” By causing others to examine the idea closely, the Refiner makes sure the concept is thought through before implementation. The Refiner scrutinizes planned change.
   
   
4. EXECUTOR – The Executor follows up on team objectives and implements ideas and solutions. The Executor carefully evaluates proposed changes, checks for executional flaws and manages the detailed tasks of getting the job done.
   
   
5. FACILITATOR – The facilitator role is one that combines two or more of the other roles to ensure this process of moving new ideas from inception to implementation is kept moving in the right direction. Facilitators step in as needed to keep the team moving toward its objectives.

By identifying and valuing the Creators, Advancers, Refiners, Executors and Facilitators on your teams, you benefit the team by:

• Helping team members recognize their own natural thinking and behavior styles by understanding how they fit into the innovative process;
• Helping team members work together with fewer conflicts by recognizing their own strengths and respecting the strengths of others on the team;
• Enhancing motivation and self-esteem as members see how their existing strengths can contribute to the team’s success.

This is a process flow: assigning roles, completing tasks, and handing off tasks to other team members. This relay process, in which tasks are passed from Creators to Advancers, from Advancers to Refiners, and from Refiners to Executors with Facilitators keeping the process moving by filling gaps in the team, helps you begin and end with success in meeting the team challenge. It’s a proven way to clarify roles, simplify processes, and maximize individual contributions for total team results.

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Sandra Phillips has helped hundreds of leaders in small and large companies inspire, energize and empower their teams using DiSC-based learning instruments for over 20 years. To get more FREE tips like these and a FREE 30-minute consultation, visit her at

http://leadershipskills-teambuilding-professionals.com

Sandra N. Phillips