by Julie Bort
No matter how well you do your job, your career will stall if you don’t generate great ideas and turn them into successful projects.
One myth in the tech industry is that innovation is only for startups. But if you have a great idea, you don’t have to leave a good job — even at a big, stuffy corporation — to launch it.
“There are entrepreneurs who work for large companies,” says Phil McKinney, former vice president and CTO of HP’s $40 billion Personal Systems Group.
McKinney left HP in December.
During his nine years there, he started a group called the Innovation Program Office — cutely nicknamed IPO. It sought out employees’ ideas to launch them in-house so people wouldn’t leave for startups.
The outspoken McKinney is a cult figure at HP between IPO and his Killer Innovations podcast, which attracts 30,000 listeners. He also just published the book Beyond the Obvious: Killer Questions that Spark Game-Changing Innovation.
Business Insider spoke to McKinney to find out how employees at large companies can get their ideas into action and grow their careers.
1. Beware the corporate antibodies: “The frustration employees feel is because they run headlong into the corporate antibodies,” he quips. “Corporate antibodies aren’t just obstructionists (though some are). You need to understand why they are pushing back.” For instance, some of them are “ego antibodies” which means “they view themselves as the idea person. You pitching an idea is threatening to them,” McKinney says.
Deal with an ego antibody by coming to that person with a rough draft and taking whatever feedback the person gives you — verbatim — and adding it to your presentation. Credit the person generously. This makes the person feel ownership of the idea.
McKinney names several other types of antibodies in his book, such as the naysayers who automatically veto everything. These folks are afraid of change and you work with them by making them more afraid of not-changing. You point out why your idea will beat your competitors.
2. Perform “the bar room test” on your idea. “Go to your local pub. Go to the bar and order a drink. Then pick three random people, introduce yourself and, assuming the person is not blotto drunk, give them the three-minute pitch. Tell them the problem you want to solve.”
If your bar buddies are interested, you’ve got a good idea. If not, either your idea isn’t great, your presentations isn’t — or both.
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