Less than 30% of the worldwide workforce is engaged at work. That’s an awful lot of people turning up to work and not caring about their job. A concerning statistic and one that is not easily remedied.
The new workforce is younger and more diverse than ever before and this represents a seismic shift in trends, aspirations and needs. Salaries and perks will always be important but the new generation of workers are looking for more than that. A better work-life balance in an increasingly digital world, a feeling that their input and ideas are valued, as well as scope to develop their own potential. In short, they are after an innovation culture.
The term ‘culture’ is bandied about a lot, often positioned as a solution to the disengaged workforce. Yet it can be a bit of a fluffy term, something that everyone talks about but no one really knows what to do with. Indeed, the definition of culture that 100%Open and others use is simply, “The way we do things around here”.
“It is in the workplace where millennials feel most influential and, in turn, accountable. This is an important point for businesses to acknowledge as it offers a platform from which to build each employee’s sense of purpose and, ultimately, a more engaged workforce.” – Deloitte, ‘The Deloitte Millennial Survey 2017
So what does an innovation culture really mean and how will it re-engage employees? More importantly, how can you cultivate such a culture? Here are four ways to hardwire an innovation culture within your organisation:
Conclusion
“94% of senior executives agree that people and corporate culture are the most important drivers of innovation.” – PwC, ‘Unleashing the power of innovation’
An innovation culture is not just about senior level management bandying around a few new ideas – it is about hardwiring innovation into the very foundations of the organisation, involving every single employee. Change won’t happen overnight – it takes time to build an innovation culture and onboard an entire organisation. Ultimately, for an innovation culture to truly thrive, it needs to be championed by the leaders but driven by the employees.
***
This is a Guest Blog post by Jonny Fisher from Idea Drop who are a partner of 100%Open in the implementation and roll-out of innovation management technology platforms with a range of enterprise clients.
Don't have an account yet? Register here for free.