A few years ago, all I wanted was to have a title with “Innovation” in it. A “Chief” before it would’ve been best but I’m not greedy. I worked on a project that helped organizations raise millions of dollars, worked on a website tutorial, and read The Innovator’s Dilemma. I quickly realized, there’s more to innovation than that, and every organization should make space for it. After more books and articles, and failures, I have a better idea on what creating a culture of innovation looks like.
The first step is listening. And it starts with an open mind from the top. Wonderful ideas can come from anyone at the organization, so start asking and listening for ideas. Below are five other key principles to encourage a pioneering organization.
1.You Do Not Have to Be Groundbreaking
Innovation doesn't always mean inventing something revolutionary. It can be as simple as improving processes, finding new ways to engage donors (or customers), or tweaking existing products so they function better. Encouraging your team to look for these 'small wins' can create a more inclusive environment for creative thinking. Valuing incremental changes collectively leads to significant impact.
2. Embrace Failure
One of the biggest barriers to innovation is the fear of failure. In an innovative office, failure is accepted and embraced! Everyone fails. I was training 70 or so people on zoom, and I decided to apply all the zoom skills I recently had learned. It was bad, I couldn’t advance slides because people were drawing on them. And I learned a valuable lesson. I was trying to be engaging and instead it was distracting.
Creating a safe space where team members feel comfortable taking risks and experimenting is vital. This means redefining success – and rewarding lessons learned. When your team knows that their value isn't diminished by unsuccessful attempts, they'll be more willing to test out new ideas.
3. Allocate Time and Resources
Innovation can't be an afterthought or a side project; it needs to be part of your organization's DNA. Consider implementing 'innovation time' - scheduled periods where employees can step away from their regular tasks to brainstorm, research new ideas, or work on passion projects. Have a “Shark Tank” type competition where the best idea is implemented.
Google's '20% time' is a great example, where employees spend a fifth of their time on projects outside their primary job. This fosters creativity and shows your team that you value and invest in their innovative capacities.
4. Embrace Diversity
Innovation thrives on diversity. Encourage team members from different backgrounds, disciplines, and experience levels to collaborate and share their unique perspectives. Break down silos! Diversity of thought can lead to creative solutions and breakthroughs. It allows for a variety of viewpoints and ideas to be considered and integrated.
5. Encourage Curiosity and Learning
Motivate your team to be curious! And you can lead by example by sharing articles, books, and ideas on a regular basis. Encourage your team to explore new technologies, trends, and methodologies. Provide opportunities for them to attend workshops, conferences, or take courses that can build their skills. Many organizations have this in their budget and never spend the dollars, my suggestion, spend the dollars. An environment where learning is cheered and rewarded is contagious.
A culture of innovation is less about grand gestures and more about everyday practices that encourage inspired thinking and risk-taking. By celebrating small-scale wins, embracing failure as a learning, and dedicating time for creativity, innovation flourishes. Please share your tips for building an innovative organization below.
Comments