Synopsis
Delivery-driven leaders often become so consumed by the pressures of running an organization that they never pause to take a look at what's going on around them. But disruptive innovators like Ratan Tata, creator of the Nano car, whose journey of discovery is described in this chapter, are constantly on the lookout for jobs people need to get done and workarounds, or partial solutions, that can be the answers to everyday problems. In this chapter, authors Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregerson, and Clayton Christensen advise you to expand your perspective by using your peripheral vision. They show you how observing your environment can bring great insight. Also in this chapter, they detail three habits that will make you a good observer: 1) Actively watching customers to see what products they "hire" to do what jobs; 2) Learning to look for surprises or anomalies; and 3) Finding opportunities to observe in a new environment. This chapter was originally published as Chapter 4 of "The Innovator's DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators."
