A Handful of Tips 50 – Innovation

Five of the best tips to stimulate innovation in business

A business has three main functions – innovation, marketing and profit.  Innovation is the fuel of corporate survival.

With cooperative management, enthusiastic workers and an environment conducive to free-thinking and innovation, companies can thrive.

1. Build a favourable work environment

Innovation flourishes in organisations where it is encouraged, appreciated and rewarded. 

Recruit innovative people and give them freedom to make a few mistakes.

Select enthusiastic team leaders who believe work can be competitive and fun. 

2. Remove barriers

Restrictions and rules prevent ideas from circulating and kill creative ideas. Remove these barriers and delegate responsibilities down to the action levels of the business.

3. Look for new ideas

Ideas can be found both inside and outside organisations. Ask your staff, your clients and your potential clients for ideas.

Research what others are doing, and if appropriate, modify their successes to your advantage.

4. Set up workshops to generate ideas

Select an experienced facilitator. 

Find a suitable quiet location and run planning and innovative workshops. Use techniques such as ‘brainstorming’ and ways of generating ideas to get everyone involved.

5. Encourage creativity 

Show appreciation of good ideas with rewards and public recognition. Rewards can take many forms, as well as money.

Everyone likes to feel their work is appreciated.

A few words of praise such as,  “Well done. You did a good job.” can mean a lot to a worker.

-Geoffrey

“Innovation thrives on encouragement

 and dies with criticism.”

Source: “Secrets for New Managers” first published by Moss Associates Ltd., New Zealand and Cengage Learning Asia, Singapore. Also available as an e-book from Amazon.com and VitalSource.