6 Top Tips on How to Promote Innovation in Your Organisation

Wikpedia provides the following definition of Innovation:

"Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, services, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society. Innovation differs from invention in that innovation refers to the use of a new idea or method, whereas invention refers more directly to the creation of the idea or method itself."

So effectively innovation is making better something that already exists.

Creativity, new ideas and inventions are precursors to innovation. Without innovation, progress will not occur. Innovation will support the growth and health of a business by providing improvements in efficiency, productivity, development of new or improved products and operational effectiveness.

Innovation requires:

•     Creativity
•     Lateral thinking
•     New ideas
•     Proactive attitude
•     Teamwork and Collaboration
•     Change
•     Focus on improvement

To encourage the required elements of innovation in an organisation requires a culture of continuous improvement that will foster consistent focus on being innovative in every area of business operation.

Develop a Continuous Improvement Strategy Vision Statement

Be clear and transparent about the desired objectives. Communicate effectively and ensure that all stakeholders understand the vision. Support this with a documented plan that can be shared with transparency and clarity.

Support Continuous Improvement with robust change management strategies

If you are making a change in how your organisation functions, then you must have change management strategies in place to ensure that your employees will embrace the new culture. Ensure that employees understand the benefits that will be gained not only for the organisation but for themselves.

6 Top Tips on How to Promote Innovation in Your Organisation

Empower Employees

Create an environment where employees understand that they are an integral part of the business. There should be a reciprocal process in place so that feedback is a 2 way process. Employees should be listened to - and not just listened to but their feedback should be acted on wherever possible. Employees should be given the authority to make decisions and implement required processes or changes within a defined structure.

Ensure that a strong Teamwork ethic is in place

It is vital that an ethos of collaboration and sharing of ideas is cultivated. Without effective teamwork, you will go nowhere fast with your efforts to support innovation.

Provide a framework that will recognise and reward innovation

Everyone likes to be recognised for their contributions. The most effective way or providing recognition is to do this tangibly. Whether you create awards, provide bonuses or simply announce achievements in interoffice newsletters or intranet updates, you will create a goal that employees will aspire to. And if you can be innovative in how you provide the recognition then all the better!

Support employees with the necessary coaching or training

Some employees will require additional support to up-skill and develop their competencies, knowledge and understanding of the continuous improvement process. Training employees is an investment in the underpinning of the vigor of your organisation and the support of future growth and increased market share.