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Every factory, shop and office today needs to be increasingly innovative. Yours is no exception.
Competition necessitates continuous innovation. Since every department, division or business is in constant competition (if only with itself), producing new products, new ideas or new ways of doing things is the currency of success today.
Working smarter, better or faster requires innovative thinking. It's the only way to gain an edge over the others.
Naturally, innovation doesn't just happen. Someone has to foster and facilitate it. If you are a supervisor or manager, this is your job. You don't have to be Thomas Edison, but you do need to promote inventiveness and creativity on the job. But how?
A Definition
Everyone Understands
Innovation is the intervention into everyday job tasks. It's making creativity a habit. What successful organizations need first is a common understanding of what is expected. True innovation is not just the function of a specialized department (e.g., Research and Development) or a few designated "innovators." It's everybody's business.
Perhaps the best and most useful explanation comes from the late management consultant, Richard Byrd, who defined innovation as "creativity times risk-taking."
Some people are good at generating fresh ideas. Others may be better at taking the necessary risks to translate bright ideas into real-world actions. The organization needs both to be innovative.
It's the supervisor's job to link creativity with implementation and make it part of the culture of the workplace. Developing a shared definition and clear expectation is the first step in creating a climate of originality and creativity. It is the seed of innovation. The next step is to plant the seed in fertile soil.
Developing An Innovation-Friendly Workplace
Have you ever wondered why some workforces consistently come up with new twists and fresh approaches that give them a leg up? You know they are not that much smarter than everyone else. So what is it?
It's probably because they have established an atmosphere that favor originality and risk-taking. It's something you can do, too.