This article originally appeared on Forbes.
Innovation is the lifeblood of any successful organization. Without it, businesses risk stagnation and eventual failure. Yet, many organizations struggle to foster a culture of innovation that can drive growth and lead to transformative ideas.
In my journey, I’ve had the opportunity to witness the strategic transformation of numerous companies. Through my work, I’ve seen leading organizations democratize innovation, encouraging ideas from every level of their workforce. This has led to the creation of empowered, productive teams that continuously contribute to company success. Below are strategies for fostering a strong culture of innovation within your organization.
Level the playing field.
Innovation cannot be limited to a select group of individuals within an organization. Instead, innovation objectives must be cascaded down to each individual’s responsibilities, with a clear set of actions and deliverables defined. This approach ensures that everyone within the organization is invested in driving innovation, thereby collectively contributing to the company’s success.
Emphasizing transparency is another important aspect in leveling the innovation playing field. Keeping all employees informed about the innovation goals, strategies and progress of the organization encourages them to align their efforts with the broader objectives.
It could be as simple as sharing regular updates on ongoing projects, discussing the rationale behind strategic decisions or celebrating the successful implementation of innovative ideas. This type of openness creates an environment where every member of the organization understands their role in driving innovation, enhancing their sense of purpose and motivation.
By ensuring that the process is transparent and inclusive, you can instill in your team a sense of shared ownership and responsibility, which is fundamental to fostering a culture of innovation.
Encourage the right mindset.
Innovation requires change, which implies breaking free from the business-as-usual mindset. To build a culture of innovation, organizations must continuously reassess their approach to innovation and adapt their practices to stay ahead of the curve.
For instance, Electrolux Professional, a company I’ve had the privilege to work with, actively promotes intrapreneurship among its employees. It fosters a culture of experimentation, risk-taking and learning from failures, which prevents stagnation and fuels creativity. This cultural mindset has been instrumental in enabling the company to identify new opportunities and maintain a competitive edge in the market.
Build proper environments.
Every successful organization needs a designated space for its core functions, and innovation is no exception. In order to facilitate innovation, consider establishing innovation labs, or creating virtual brainstorming platforms for remote teams. Regular workshops, hackathons and other idea-generating events can also provide employees with the tools and opportunities to think creatively and out of the box.
That said, cultivating the right environment is more than physical spaces or digital platforms; it’s about creating an atmosphere of trust and openness. Let’s take an example from my experience, where we collaborated with Novartis, a multinational pharmaceutical company, on a culture transformation project.
One of the key initiatives during this transformation was organizing a “Pitchfest.” This event brought together associates from diverse geographies, divisions and disciplines, aiming to accelerate innovation and forge new value-creation relationships.
In this Pitchfest, they prioritized psychological safety, enabling employees to voice their bold, transformative ideas without fear of judgment or reprisal. Such a safe space emboldened them to provide feedback, make new connections and expand their network. This approach, where employees felt comfortable proposing and discussing novel ideas, ultimately fueled an environment ripe for innovation.
Remove all barriers.
Organizational silos are a common obstacle to effective collaboration, hindering the flow of information and ideas between different departments. This problem is amplified when new initiatives such as diversity and sustainability are launched, which often necessitate a clear demonstration of ROI.
To tackle this, adopt a holistic approach to innovation that involves breaking down barriers and promoting collaboration across different areas of the business. Initiating cross-functional teams or innovation task forces could be a starting point. Also, integrating technology solutions that facilitate communication, like enterprise social networks, along with tools specifically designed for managing innovation, can also foster connectivity and collaboration.
By incorporating employees from all areas, your company can continuously expose itself to fresh perspectives, driving innovation and growth.
Innovation is critical to the success of any organization. To foster a culture of innovation, organizations must democratize the innovation process, encourage a future-fit mindset, create a designated innovation space and promote collaboration across different business areas. By embracing these practices and making innovation a key part of your ethos, your organization can foster a mindset that drives growth and generates transformative ideas.
Ludwig Melik
CEO at Planbox and author of the Future-Fit Manifesto. I help organizations build a sustainable culture of innovation. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.