Course Highlights
This onsite course for innovation coaches will:
- Clarify the role and responsibilities of an innovation coach.
- Demonstrate how to guide individuals and teams through each phase of the innovation process.
- Introduce communication techniques, such as framing statements and inquiry-based guidance, to facilitate innovation effectively.
- Provide a toolkit of 30+ methods and tools that coaches can use to stimulate creativity and critical thinking.
- Offer strategies for handling common challenges that arise in innovation coaching.
Course Overview
Innovation is essential, but guiding people through the innovation process requires skill, patience, and a structured approach. This interactive course equips innovation coaches with the skills to lead teams from idea generation to impactful outcomes. Participants will learn the core principles and practices of effective innovation coaching, focusing on the coach’s role at each stage of the innovation journey.
Beginning with a clear definition of what innovation coaches do (and don’t do), the course explores how coaches can set expectations, frame discussions, and guide people through roadblocks and breakthroughs. Participants will practice using framing statements to establish direction and employ questions strategically to foster creativity and self-discovery. Throughout the program, participants will work with the BRAVE framework to address ideas that may not advance, as well as a decision tree process to help teams assess ideas methodically.
The course also covers essential group facilitation skills, providing a bank of questions and over 30 practical tools coaches can use at different stages of the innovation process. Through hands-on activities and case scenarios, participants will develop strategies to navigate common challenges and ensure smooth progression from initial ideas to impactful solutions.
Another element of the course is an Innovation Styles Assessment, which allows participants to identify their primary innovation style among types such as Visionary, Spotter, Conceptualizer, Experimenter, Developer, Scaler, Integrator, Disruptor, Evolutionary, Collaborator, Advocate, and Sustainer. This assessment provides insight into individual and team strengths, helping coaches tailor their approach to support diverse perspectives within innovation projects.
The following outline highlights some of the course’s key learning points. As part of your training program, we will modify content as needed to meet your business objectives. Upon request, we will provide you with a copy of the participant materials prior to the session(s).
Program Objectives
At this program’s conclusion, participants should be able to:
- Explain the innovation coach’s role and what innovation coaches do and don’t do.
- Describe how coaches can add value at each stage of the innovation process.
- Use framing statements to set expectations, set the tone, and guide people through the innovation process.
- Outline the value of questions.
- Convert statements to questions.
- Apply the BRAVE framework to address ideas that don’t move forward.
- Hold a first meeting and introduce a decision tree process for vetting ideas.
- Ask questions to prepare for innovation team facilitation engagements.
- Use 30+ tools at various stages of the innovation process.
- Craft solutions to challenges innovation coaches encounter.
Workshop Modules
- What Innovation Coaches Do: Understanding the Role
- From End to End: What Coaches Do at Each Phase of the Innovation Process
- The Right Words at the Right Time: General Coaching Skills
- Matters of Inquiry: A Bank of Questions for Each Stage of the Process
- The First Coaching Meeting: Off on the Right Foot
- One to Many: Group Facilitation Skills
- Solve It: Solutions to Common Challenges
Target Audience
This workshop is designed for groups that want to:
- Strengthen their ability to coach others to innovate.
- Develop a structured approach to support teams through the innovation process.
- Learn practical tools and strategies to foster creativity and problem-solving.
Suggested Format
- One-Day Onsite Training Course
Questions This Page Answers About Thinking Strategies Training
- Where can I find a course to help my team coach for innovation?
- Who offers an interactive workshop to help teams guide the innovation process from idea to implementation?
- How can my organization develop coaching skills that foster creativity and structured problem-solving within our teams?