From Good Ideas To Things That Ship
Episode 28: Beyond Brainstorming: How to Make Your Ideas Happen with Colin Duff
Colin Duff on why ideas stall after the workshop, and how to get from a wall of sticky notes to something that actually lands.
Why do our good ideas never get implemented?
Also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
What this episode covers
Many good ideas within organisations never reach implementation because innovation and risk management are often seen as incompatible. In this episode, Colin Duff, CEO of Mosaic Innovation, draws on 20 years of experience helping global brands navigate this tension. He explains why managers are rarely the problem and why innovation stalls higher up the leadership chain. Colin shares practical strategies to create small wins, reduce decision friction, and foster a culture that moves beyond brainstorming to action. This episode is a must-listen for leaders seeking clear, actionable advice on how to make their ideas happen.
Who this is for: General managers and senior operators running teams who find their good ideas rarely get implemented and want practical ways to change that.
Key takeaways
- Innovation often stalls because organisations struggle to balance risk perception with the need to try new ideas.
- Small wins are critical to build momentum and shift culture towards accepting innovation.
- Managers are not the root problem; often, the barriers to innovation lie higher up the leadership chain.
- Effective innovation requires moving beyond brainstorming to practical steps that address decision friction.
- Regularly assessing where decisions are stalling helps identify bottlenecks and unblock progress on ideas.
Have you ever considered the potent intersection of innovation and risk management? In this episode, we are joined by the seasoned CEO of Mosaic Innovation, Colin Duff. His resume boasts two decades of helping global brands navigate tricky innovation challenges. Join us as Colin shares his intriguing journey and provides practical insights into instigating a high-performance culture.
Colin Duff is an innovation and cultural transformation consultant with 20 years of experience in helping leading global brands such as HP, Marriott, PepsiCo, and Barclays crack their toughest challenges. Sharing war stories and actionable insights – especially those that are less obvious, counterintuitive, and which deviate from ‘best practice’ gives him a kick.
Connect with Colin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinduff
https://www.mosaic-innovation.com/
Episode Highlights
[1:19] Introduction of Colin Duff, CEO of Mosaic Innovation
[3:48] Colin's journey into innovation and cultural transformation
[8:31] Assessment of innovation levels in large enterprises
[12:59] Addressing the tension between innovation and risk perception
[15:40] Strategies for initiating innovation in organizations
[19:22] Colin's favorite insight about an unsuccessful innovation in the market
[21:26] Small wins and momentum-building strategies for creating an innovative culture
[26:17] How to connect with Colin Duff and key takeaway: "Get out of thought land"
[29:21] Outro
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Questions managers ask about this episode
Why do good ideas often fail to get implemented in organisations?
Good ideas frequently fail because organisations struggle to balance innovation with risk management, leading to decision bottlenecks and a culture that resists change. Leadership layers above managers often create friction that stalls progress, making it difficult for ideas to move beyond the initial brainstorming phase.
How can I build momentum for innovation within my team?
Focus on achieving small wins that demonstrate tangible results. These successes help shift culture by showing that innovation can deliver value without excessive risk, gradually increasing acceptance and encouraging further experimentation.
What role do managers play in the innovation process?
Managers are typically not the root cause of stalled innovation; instead, barriers often exist higher in the leadership hierarchy. Supporting managers with clear decision frameworks and addressing where decisions get stuck can help unblock progress on new ideas.
How can I identify where innovation decisions are getting stuck?
Conduct a diagnostic to find where decision friction occurs and which levels of leadership are bottlenecks. Understanding these points allows you to target interventions effectively and move ideas from thought to action more efficiently.