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How to assess for innovation

Innovation isn’t just about coming up with brand-new ideas. Learn more about how to evolve ideas into valuable outcomes, and how to spot true innovators who drive transformative results.

What is innovation?

Innovation is the process of transforming an idea into something that’s useful and creates value.

But does an improvement of an old idea count as innovation? How can you tell if a candidate is truly an innovator or just taking credit for someone else’s work? LinkedIn’s Brendan Browne considers these questions and more in this discussion with Airbnb’s Lilian Tham, Newell Brands Technical Apparel’s Deanna Fleming, and Grand Rounds’ Nick Gorski.

Meet the experts

Higher profit growth among companies with highly aligned innovation strategies and cultures

of organizations have trouble bridging the gap between innovation strategy and the larger business strategy

Interview questions to assess for innovation

Question 1

Tell me about a time when you thought of a better way to do something at work. What did you do?

What to listen for

Clear, benefits-focused examples of how they identified an area of improvement and helped to optimize it
Strategic communication to key stakeholders of the rationale for the change, and the winning of buy-in

What this question assesses

A mindset of constant evaluation and iteration in order to avoid complacency
Tenacity to build a case for their idea and to ensure it’s implemented successfully

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Question 2

What external factors do you think will shake up our industry within the next five years?

What to listen for

Keen understanding of current and emerging challenges facing your industry
Inspiration, ideas, and a positive outlook about potential challenges, rather than apprehension

What this question assesses

Forward-thinking growth mindset, which allows them to be prepared for the next big thing
Adaptability in taking on challenges and ideating solutions

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Question 3

What’s your process for coming up with solutions and ideas?

What to listen for

Thoughtful explanation of strategic steps, rather than passive aspiration, to reach a desired result
Identifying resources or teammates that can be used to evaluate, prove, and disprove various options for solutions

What this question assesses

Independent process for generating ideas, balanced with ability to lean on others as needed
Ingenuity in finding new areas for ideas, workarounds to challenges, and fresh angles on convention

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Get the checklist for assessing innovation

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Additional resources

50 productivity hacks essential for hiring

Learn how to save time at every stage of the hiring process.

Hire smarter, not harder

Brigham Young University’s Jeff Dyer on innovation

Use these behaviors and techniques to generate creative ideas.

Go beyond mere invention

Featured speakers

Brendan Browne
VP of Global Talent Acquisition

Brendan Browne leads recruiting for LinkedIn. Prior to joining LinkedIn, he led recruiting and HR at Microsoft, Northwest Mutual, and Sapient. A 15-year industry veteran, Brendan is passionate about nurturing high performing, healthy, scaleable companies.

Lilian Tham
Head of Global Executive Search

Lilian Tham drives executive hiring at Airbnb, where she’s excited to help steer the company through their IPO and post-IPO growth. Lilian previously led executive hiring for Google and Howard Fischer Associates, and managed marketing at American Express.

Nick Gorski
Engineering Manager

Nick Gorski leads data engineering at Grand Rounds. Previously, he was an engineering manager at Twitter and a software engineer at TellApart, which Twitter acquired in 2015. Nick specializes in data platforms, machine learning, and distributed computing.

Deanna Fleming
Head of Global Sales and Business Development

Deanna Fleming leads the sales organization at Newell Brands Technical Apparel (NBTA). Prior to joining NBTA, she was the vice president of marketing and innovation at Harmless Harvest, where she managed the company’s expansive growth.

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