Disruptive innovation: how the likes of Apple and Microsoft excel

The son of an aeronautics engineer and inventor, he works with some of the world’s biggest engineering firms, as well as companies including Shell, Apple and Microsoft, to help them find ways to encourage innovation – and in doing so, progress faster.

And this, he says, has never mattered more.

If we want to invent more, we need to do less. Instead of focusing on speed and getting things done, we need to take the time to experiment and change the way we do things. Only then will we give ourselves the opportunity to actually progress.

Just last week, Timothy R. Clark, founder and CEO of LeaderFactor, a global leadership consulting and training firm, told the Harvard Business Review that innovation continues to be stifled by hierarchies and status quo, and were that not to be the case the possibilities for industries across the world would be “mind blowing.”

To find out exactly what disruption is, how it can change the way you innovate and lead to significantly more creativity (no matter your industry or workspace), as well as how to actively implement it, IE caught up with Barlow for an exclusive interview.

Interesting Engineering: Explain disruptive innovation to the uninitiated.

Disruption means displacing the comfortable world view of an incumbent industry leader. Often the challenge arises from a newcomer or the use of new technology: witness Amazon’s attack on retail or Uber’s on traditional taxi drivers.

However few successful “disruptors” actively have this as a goal – they simply want to do something better, quicker and cheaper. The disruption is the outcome, not the journey: so-called disruptors have the primary aim of doing something better or differently.

Why do you think disruption is so vital to progress?

Complacency and an unquestioning attitude towards the status quo are the enemies of progress, so when a “disruption” happens it causes everyone to rethink their business model, and to innovate further themselves.

Unlike the popular view, those who have been disrupted weren’t just sleeping dinosaurs but often knew it was coming: they were too slow in turning their ship around.

We can also think of disruption as a personal as well as a corporate imperative – as in the words of former IBM CEO Ginni Romerty: “Always disrupt yourself!”

What is the biggest barrier to innovation?

Too much focus on the short term and the need to perform – and too little time and inclination to challenge outdated mindsets and conventions.

The history of innovation has always been about having the courage to think differently, be curious and welcome the new. After all, the central syllable of innovation is ‘nova’ – newness!

What would you say to those yet to encourage innovation in their teams and workforces?

It’s for leaders to live the message of constant innovation. As social animals, we are copiers, and so it’s the role model of our leaders that encourages us to act in certain ways.

There’s an old saying that “you are your diary”: so if leaders and managers are seen to spend time, money and energy highlighting the importance of innovation, that behavior will be copied in a beneficial way. Actions not words!

How can we encourage more young people to innovate and how can we make sure their ideas are seen?

A culture that denies innovation is what I call a “yes, but” environment – when you ‘yes but’ to someone’s new ideas, you are effectively rejecting their creativity.

Young people have to be encouraged and rewarded for thinking, “Why not? What if?”

Do you think new technologies have changed innovation for the better?

We ARE innovation: the ways we work today are radically different from how we functioned 15, or even five years ago, principally using the new technologies for communication.

However… these technologies have brought us breadth of ability to communicate, but not necessarily depth.

A study from the scientific journal Nature in May 2022 demonstrated that virtual communications actually hindered idea generation and creative collaboration.

Virtual contact is great for information sharing, but still doesn’t succeed in accelerating innovation. For that, you need to do what Steve Jobs said – “get in a room together, and then you’re cooking!”

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Quickfire questions

What or who inspires you?

My work is inspiring cultures of fresh thinking and open mindsets in individuals and organizations.

All too often, new ideas come from out of left field, and so I am inspired by great musical performers who can really hold and touch an audience.

I’m often on stage myself in front of large business audiences, and learn more from watching live music, acting or comedy than soaking up TED talks or watching other speakers. Difference comes from making lateral connections across different fields and disciplines, so that’s what I do!

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

The possibility of speaking with interesting people from around the world — learning from them and having the opportunity to inspire others with new and innovative thinking.

What makes you smile?

My childrens’ sense of humor…

What is your greatest achievement to date?

Never having had a boss! Mentors, yes, but a manager? Never!

What is your biggest regret?

My father – an aeronautics engineer and inventor – not living to see me working with some of the world’s biggest engineering firms.

What would you say to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Don’t follow me! Or anyone who isn’t much wiser than you.

Go your own way, but find and learn from great coaches and mentors – if you don’t have one right now, call someone today!

What advice would you give your younger self?

You’ve done ok – but you should have written more books…

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