Promoting innovation within your business

In order to become innovative, you will need to promote the idea of innovation within your business. Make sure all of your departments and staff members are engaged with, and feel part of, an innovative environment.

This may not happen overnight. Innovation requires a commitment from leaders within your organisation, and the following are key areas to focus on.

Foster a culture of innovation and creativity

Innovation is a time-consuming and continuous process. It is important that the environment in which it takes place:

• is supportive and open
• encourages creative thinking and expression
• rewards success
• does not dismiss ideas that are perceived to fail.

If people do not feel free to express their ideas, or are afraid of criticism, creativity will quickly be stifled, and often staff or stakeholder engagement in the process will deteriorate rapidly.

Encourage a team approach to brainstorm ideas or consider creating other physical or online environments where team members can collaborate, share new ideas and be creative.

Motivate and focus on your staff

Your staff are likely to be one of the richest sources of new ideas and creative potential. When looking to innovate, it is important to devote time to listen to staff ideas. Make them feel valued and motivated by asking for continual feedback on ways that processes can be improved.

You may consider training your staff so they can spot inefficiencies within your organisation, or potential new products or services your business could be involved in.

You could also introduce a mentoring system as a way of helping your staff develop and become more innovative. Mentoring staff can often lead to higher staff retention rates and the development of specific skills, and can increase profits through improved staff performance.

Related links

• Learn more about developing staff through mentoring.
• Read about managing people through change.