The final show for Britain’s Got Talent was this evening — the voting has just started. While watching, it occurred to me that there is nothing new at all about the concept of the show.  There have been talent shows since time immemorial. Why is this talent show so compelling?  Why has it captured the attention of this entire island nation?

The short answer is they’ve done it better. This is not earth-shattering innovation.  This is good old fashioned, do it better innovation.

Innovation does not always mean something completely new and different. Sometimes a “better” implementation of an old idea can make all the difference between a yawn and something that is inspiring. Disruptive innovation is marvelous, and, incremental innovation is also a huge opportunity.  But you can’t go half way. Better, significantly better, can be quite difficult to do — how did BGT do it? They created distinctive differences from other talent shows.

BGT creates several points of difference.  First there is scope. The program takes in the entire UK, so they “own” the nation.  Secondly, the program has supreme glitz — the absolutely first class production values accentuate the acts in a special way.  Next, they create a deep emotional connection.  Susan Boyle alone covers this base!  Every act pulls at the heart strings; you want to believe, and you tune in to see your favorite.  Finally, branding.  Piers Morgan, Simon Cowell, and Amanda Holden have anchored the show’s brand with high class, consistent, and authentic showmanship. Their professionalism gives the competition credibility.

So, when looking to innovate, asking yourself this question: In what ways can we do what we do at a new level of excellence?