Part of the problem with product innovation for example is that it happens so infrequently.
Perhaps every few years a genuine new product is launched.
Now wonder we sometimes get rusty.
Imagine only playing basketball a few times per year.
Your skills would certainly not remain razor sharp.
Now imagine if you had an opportunity to play basketball everyday.
Your skills would improve dramatically.
It is the same with innovation.
Imagine the new ideas and growth you could unleash if everyone in your business could innovate everyday.
But how to do this?
Here are 5 suggestions:
1. Give everyone a new tool:
We have developed a new tool called Ideas Blitz which is specifically designed to be used everyday.
It only takes a few minutes to run a Blitz either by yourself or with a group and you can generate powerful new ideas and solutions in literally minutes.
The problem at the moment is that brainstorming for example or Design thinking for that matter require time to organise and do.
2. Reframe Innovation as being more than just developing new products
Innovation can be applied to all sorts of daily activities from how to conduct a meeting, solve a client problem or improve the accounts receivables process.
The aim is to have as many people as possible constantly thinking of ways to create better, faster and different ways of doing things.
3. Remind everyone that small changes can have a big impact.
Having everyone trying to make small but significant changes can have a powerful impact over time.
It also can have a beneficial influence on helping people make progress which in turns stimulates motivation, engagement and creativity.
Teresa Amabile has conducted a great of research on the many benefits of what she calls the Progress Principle i.e. helping people make progress (everyday) towards a meaningful goal.
4. Engage everyone in the innovation journey
Innovation for many people is considered someone else’s responsibility.
But imagine the power you could unleash if everyone felt engaged.
You could change a culture — one day at a time.
5. Focus on innovative thinking & behaviour
To innovate everyday means helping people to think and act differently.
You have to counter habits, routine and what has been done in the past.
But to bring about change you need to change behaviour. To lose weight for example means that you have to start walking.
You have to do something different.
Trying to encourage everyone in a business to innovate everyday should be the goal of every team leader and manager.
In fact. innovation can be applied to leadership as well.