This is a PPT version of the CYCLES toolkit. It contains 29 easy=touse-canvases built by 22 innovation experts

1. The simplest proven method to innovate faster
while reducing risks
A B C S
Systematically
improve
Communicate
/Check
Build
Alignment
The CYCLES toolkit

2. How this toolkit is organized
Part 1 An overview of the ABCs Method (8-30)
Part 2
Detailed instructions for every part of every
canvas, download links (31-46)
Part 3 Links to MURAL Canvases (47)

3. CYCLES is a fun book, but more importantly, it
explains how to innovate at every stage. Consistent
winners are idea builders that make good or even
mediocre ideas great over time.
With CYCLES, you’ll learn by doing how to grow
ideas up to 6x faster while cutting risks by over
50%.
This book brings together 4 years of research and
the work of 22 innovation experts into a simple
system with easy-to-use canvases and tools.
The foundation of this system is thinking of idea
building as an ongoing process of cycles. Some
cycles are short, and some are long. With hands-on
tools you’ll learn to run each cycle faster and more
effectively.
The canvases in this document
are from the CYCLES book
Buy CYCLES
about CYCLES..

4. Built by 22 innovation experts

5. Our Promise
CYCLES will change the way you think about innovation. You'll learn the ABCS of innovation
success.
More importantly, CYCLES will make it easier to innovate faster while reducing risks with easy hands-
on tools.

6. The ABCS are the fundamentals…
A is for Alignment
If innovation is to succeed, everyone in the company must be
thinking and working together towards a common goal.
B is for Build
Ideas are built, and these can be ideas for new products,
processes, or systems.
C is for
Communicate and
Check.
If you are going to grow your ideas successfully, you must
communicate what you are trying to do and why. When you are
testing theories, you will constantly check that you are achieving
what you have set out to do.
S is for
Systematically
Improve.
Successful innovation is not random or subject to chance. It is the
result of a methodical process of identifying, evaluating,
implementing, and testing. This process of systematic improvement
must become embedded in every level of the company’s ethos and
operations.

7. • Mission finder
• Job to be done
• Business model
innovation
• Culture change
• TRUE NORTH
• Problem
definition
• Effectuation
• Spark Packs
• Stimulus mining
• Idea Feedback
• Idea Mixing
• Simple
Research
• 4Ps of better
communication
• Willingness to
Pay (WTP)
• Shoot the puppy
• Facing Fears
• Systems thinking
• How to stop
“monkey brain’
innovation
• Bullets then
Cannonballs
S
Systematically improve
C
Communicate /
Check
B
Build Ideas
A
Alignment
Tools you
will find
What are the tools you will find?

8. The Reality…
The Reality…
In 4 years of research with over 400
companies, some succeeded and many
failed.
The biggest difference between winners
and losers is smart winners make good,
even mediocre, ideas great over time.

9. Winners build
ideas over time
‘cycle by cycle’

10. The
Process

11. If you don’t know where you’re going... Chances are you won’t
get where you want to go.
Alignment is the foundation of
effective growth. It is about an
honest assessment of who you are.
(CULTURE) It is about finding what is
important (MISSION) and matching
this with what the market wants
(NEEDS) and plans to deliver value
(fit with SKILL and BUSINESS
MODELS).
Deliverable: You should know, be able to
identify 3-4 True North priorities for
your company /division (True north)
priorities can be:
1. Culture/skills to develop
2. Fine-tuning of the business model
3. Creation of new
products/services/business methods)
A = Alignment

12. Steps
To
Getting
Aligned
4
Alignment
4

13. Go from talk to specifics
with TRUE NORTH

14. Set
your
direction with
TRUE
NORTH
TRUE
NORTH
Alignment

15. B =Build Ideas
Once you know what you want to do it is time to build ideas that have a chance to deliver
on your objectives. Contrary to the belief that the ability to build ideas is limited to a select
few, there are tools, techniques that can help any team build better ideas. These tools
are:
1. Effectuation (looking for ideas at home with the resources you have)
2. Systematic search for stimulus (get out of the building)
3. Diversity and willingness to bring in new people/resources.
With these tools and techniques, the process is clear but clear does not mean easy.
Removal of fear and an ongoing action focus is the “secret sauce” that can pull
everything together.
Deliverable: New ideas that have a good chance of being on strategy; meaningful and
unique.

16. The first
steps to
better
ideas
B =
4
Build

17. The next
steps to
better
ideas
4
Build

18. Stimulus
mining
Google slides
template
Build

19. Steps
Mix and
match ideas
to build
better ideas
Build
3

20. If you’re looking to build bigger and better ideas, you need to get feedback.
To get effective feedback you need to be able to explain your ideas clearly, really listen
(listening is not just hearing!), slow down to make sure you are on the right path, and most
importantly be ready to kill bad ideas.
Deliverable: Do people understand the idea, what do they
think of the idea, are we making progress. If there is no
good hope of progress, kill the idea
C =Communicate/ Check

21. Steps to
clarify and
check your
ideas
4
Communicate
Check

22. When your
ideas need
clarity, this is a
great format
Communicate
Check

23. A simple
format to
test your
ideas
Communicate
Check

24. S =
A lot of research has shown that systems are the key to innovation success.
Systems are made up of interrelated components of people and processes with a clearly
defined, shared destination or goal.
Systems work best when everyone shares an understanding and commitment to the aim or
purpose of the system.
The foundations are clarity and a commitment to learning and improvement.
Great companies have 3 characteristics that set them apart from the rest. These characteristics
are:
1. An ability to see and build on strengths
2. A commitment to building innovation eco-systems and
3. A commitment to ongoing action11
Systematically Improve
Deliverable: Simplifying the challenges, structuring the learning process, getting better
internally and in your eco-system. Enough information to update your objectives and start
another cycle.

25. Even if you’re
not afraid it is
good to start
by finding
your fears
Systematically
Improve

26. Steps to
improve
your
innovation
process
Systematically
Improve

27. Getting ready for your next Cycle
Alignment Build Ideas Communicate/
Check
Systematically
Improve
A B C S

28. Bonus:
How to build
habits

29. H =Habits
Use behavioural science and habit-building to deliver sustainable innovation.
Most new initiatives begin by focusing on motivating people by announcing new strategies in a big
launch and expecting change to follow.
Unfortunately, this approach generally fails. The reason is simple; behavioural science tells us that
motivation and incentives are not the most effective ways to get people to change what they do.
The best approach is quite simple; first, new behaviours are facilitated, and then controlled
repetition of these behaviours creates habits. Habits become the foundation of real and lasting
change.
Deliverables: Identification of a ‘swarm’ of behaviours linked to the habits you want to
build
Selection of 1-2 behaviours to focus on Cues and intentions to trigger these behaviours
Ways to celebrate to create long-term habits

30. Steps to
create
better
habits
Habits
4

31. You can also download a sample of any chapter
/canvas by clicking the download PDF button
Each part of every canvas is
explained in detail in the CYCLES
book.
More detailed instructions for all the
parts of all the canvases are
attached.
Detailed
Instructions

33. Can we add
downloadable link with
each image ?

47. Alignment Build Ideas Communicate/
Check
Systematically
improve
Habits
MURAL TEMPLATES
All the canvases are available as MURAL templates with detailed
instructions for each part. CLICK on the links to get your
template

48. What Next
Thank you
We hope you found value in the tools
presented here.
Learn more in our book
You can order the CYCLES book at this link:
http://tiny.cc/buycycles (in English)
http://tiny.cc/Comprar-Ciclos-pt (In Portuguese)
Would you like to know more about company
training, guided sprints, please contact
bryan@bryancassady.com
Note: you can arrange a one to one meeting
with Bryan at this link:
https://bryancassady.youcanbook.me
Next Steps…