Chairman's Perspective - February Voice 2022

My challenge to myself in 2022

We all can be innovators if we’re deliberate about it

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a happy and healthy holiday season and are on your way to a prosperous 2022. I am truly excited for what lies ahead for the Rockford Chamber and the region in 2022. Task forces have been kicked off at the board level to examine how we can better connect with you as members, how the chamber can adapt to serve your changing needs and how we can ensure that we have a Chamber for All.

I want to publicly thank the chamber staff and my fellow board members for taking on this important work.

On a different note, I have had the opportunity over the past few months to work with a donor at the foundation who has a keen interest in supporting innovation in our community. When this donor first approached me, I had a rather narrow view of innovation. I couldn’t help but think of someone sitting in a lab, maybe blowing up a few things or coming up with some invention that may or may not see the light of day.

While this type of innovation is important and does occur, what this donor did was challenge me to think about innovation in the context of wealth creation, economic development and business success.

I think back to my time owning a business in the region and again in my current role at the foundation, and I never really thought what we were doing was innovation … we were/are simply trying to meet the needs of our customers and our community, which is exactly what the chamber is up to right now!

There’s Many Benefits

As a recovering accountant (no offense to my accounting brothers and sisters), the concept of deliberate innovation seems a bit contrary to my natural tendencies, but it was and is a critical component of success. But why? In a recent article published by Northeastern University on innovation, they state what probably seems obvious to most people; that innovation in the workplace can lead to the following benefits:

1. Growth (in your top line or your bottom line). New products or product enhancements clearly can be an avenue to growing the top line. But do not forget innovation in procedures or processes that can lead to growth in the bottom line without increasing revenues.

2. Staying Relevant. It is very easy to slowly fade out of relevance if you are not constantly looking for opportunities to do more or be better. The world is changing rapidly around us, and we most look for ways to not have it pass us by.

3. Differentiation. Most of the products and services offered today are also offered by a myriad of competitors. Looking for new ways of doing things, or said another way, looking for new or better ways to meet the needs of your customers, can allow your company to rise to the top of a crowded field.

So how does innovation happen? The old saying stands true for many of us, which is “necessity is the mother of invention.” As I said earlier, I never really thought that innovation was a part of what we did or are doing … it just sort of happens. My 2022 challenge to myself is to be deliberate. I can only imagine what we could accomplish if we made innovation a practice instead of just a reaction.

To that end, here are a few simple steps that I am going to try in the new year and beyond:

1. Listen and learn. It is imperative to understand what your customers and stakeholders want and need.

2. Make it a priority. Carve time out to step back and think about what you or your organization can do differently. Make it a team effort. Many hands make light work, and I guarantee that innovation will flow in the right environment.

I wish you all a great New Year!

Dan Ross is chair of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and president of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.