Reuter believes that corporations and startups alike have to focus on the people that they engage with everyday and making sure they feel safe in their environment. When talk about a “safe environment” comes about, this includes companies not only supporting their workers but also encouraging them to think about change. That is how you foster innovation within a workplace. When workers feel secure enough to take risks, that’s when innovation occurs.
When speaking on not being able to fix everything all at once, Reuter states that it is critical that companies identify their assets as a company and build off of those assets first. When you focus on something that you do well and work on it, it gives a more positive effect than worrying about fixing everything that is wrong in a company.
Claudia goes on to relate this concept with performance reviews. If we focus on why someone is a six and not a ten and what is so wrong with them, we don’t see the potential. Claudia poses a very good question, “What if you flip that and say, what makes them a six and not a zero?” When you reverse that thinking, you are focused on assets, not the liabilities you are facing. You can then build on that and get that six up to a ten. When companies have leaders that take this initiative when it comes to innovation, it helps facilitate that safe environment for others to feel safe enough to take risks. When discussing investing, Claudia Reuter states that investors should be asking why they are engaging with the startups. Find a reason as to why you want to work with this company and what you all can do to effect change in the world.
Claudia Reuter raises a good point when discussing engaging with startups. She discusses that sometimes, when companies engage with startups, their goals are not aligned and end up wasting a startup’s time and therefore the company’s money. When you go into a partnership sharing similar goals, much more change can occur in a more positive setting. Claudia ends her interview with a resounding statement: “I think intention is really important for the relationship to be successful.” When investing in a startup, don’t just throw money at them and expect them to be successful. When partners work together towards a common goal, that’s where the success lies.
