Innovation is often thought of as a spontaneous "lightbulb" moment that comes in a stroke of creative genius. However, instead of waiting for those moments to arrive by chance, organizations can foster continuous innovation by intentionally and strategically cultivating it.
To help leaders achieve this goal, 14 Newsweek Expert Forum members share their insights on how to develop a more structured, intentional approach to innovation. From establishing cross-functional teams to setting aside dedicated time for creative thinking, here are their top recommendations for modern leaders.
1. Make Space for Play and Failure
Innovation and creativity are entirely about a willingness to try out ideas without knowing that they will work. That's also a description of play and a description of failure. My advice is to make space for play (Google's 20% time is a great example of this) and make it safe to fail. Wayne Gretzky fell down in practice a lot more than other players; it's why he was the best on the ice. - Bryan Boroughs, Institute for Child Success
2. Dedicate Time and Resources to Developing Fresh Ideas
First, ensure teams get outside the organization to explore new developments and trends. This can provide inspiration and help them stay current. Then, carve out time for dedicated discussions to generate and vet fresh ideas. Lastly, provide teams with access to the resources needed to drive innovations forward. Ensure they understand what will take effort and what will require new infrastructure. - Alexa Kimball, Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess
3. Anticipate Your Customers' Needs Instead of Reacting to Trends
The most innovative companies are the best listeners. They are deliberate in anticipating where their customers are going and evolving their solutions to get in front of their needs. Being reactive in investment decisions just to keep up with the "next big trend" is not the answer if it does not serve customers or your business's larger strategic goals. - Steve Smith, Zayo
4. Set Aside Meeting-Free Blocks
Companies can adopt a more structured approach to innovation by implementing meeting-free blocks or days. This allows uninterrupted time for creativity to flourish by reducing transitions and interruptions, which are known to hinder creativity. Leaders must model and endorse this practice to foster a culture of innovation, as it encourages deep focus and ideation, ultimately leading to impactful outcomes. - Leah Marone, Corporate Wellness Consultant
5. Create a Formal Innovation Funnel
Companies can implement a formal innovation funnel, guiding ideas through stages like ideation, prototyping and testing. A culture of psychological safety is crucial for employees to share ideas. It provides a systematic process for vetting and maintaining a creative spark while also allowing for potential varying financial awards. - Alan Wozniak, Business Health Matters (BHM) Executive Consulting
6. Encourage Continuous Learning and Productive Risk-Taking
Innovation leverages creativity, ingenuity and problem-solving to produce new ideas, products, services, solutions and ways of living and being. Many innovative breakthroughs occur by accident. Companies can cultivate innovative outcomes with structured and intentional approaches like cross-functional collaboration, design thinking practices, continuous learning and productive risk-taking. - Lillian Gregory, The 4D Unicorn LLC
7. Schedule Idea Incubation Sessions
I would propose implementing idea incubation rituals. Consider scheduling undisturbed, regular sessions for employees where they disconnect from routine tasks to nurture and brainstorm new ideas. It is an idea grounded in the psychological incubation theory, which asserts that creativity can emerge from subconscious to conscious thoughts, thus encouraging breakthrough innovations. - Dr. Kira Graves, Kira Graves Consulting
8. Incorporate Innovation into Strategic Planning Sessions
Conduct regular strategic planning sessions focused on innovation. These sessions should involve stakeholders from various departments and levels of the organization to promote cross-functional collaboration. The aim is to align innovation efforts with long-term business goals and strategies, ensuring a more structured and collaborative approach to innovation. - Gergo Vari, Lensa
9. Establish Cross-Functional Teams with Diverse Perspectives
Establish cross-functional teams that encourage diverse perspectives and collaboration. By creating a culture that values and rewards experimentation and learning from failure, organizations can stimulate creativity and adaptability. This will lead to more innovative solutions and a competitive edge in the market. - Anna Yusim, MD, Yusim Psychiatry, Consulting & Executive Coaching
10. Offer Collaborative Innovation Master Classes
Launch a formal innovation management system that encourages idea generation, evaluation and implementation. Based on my experience at Greif, one key piece of advice is scheduling cross-functional innovation master classes to harness diverse perspectives, enhance creativity and apply them to practical problems. These classes promote a collaborative culture, driving impactful and sustainable innovation. - Bala Sathyanarayanan, GREIF Inc.
11. Establish an Innovation Process and Framework
Implement a dedicated innovation management system (IMS) by establishing a formal process and framework for managing and nurturing innovation within the organization. An effective IMS includes mechanisms for idea generation, selection, development and commercialization, which is supported by a culture that encourages creativity and risk-taking. - Britton Bloch, Navy Federal
12. Adopt the Toyota Production System
The one piece of advice I have for structured innovation is to adopt the Toyota Production System concept. This is where a team looks at all the elements of an idea, pros and cons, and works on challenges to overcome any obstacles before implementing the idea. This ensures the idea has a reasonable chance of success before it's implemented. - Baruch Labunski, Rank Secure
13. Focus On Understanding the Nature of Problems
I wouldn't use the word "structured" to achieve innovation and breakthroughs. Sometimes, the best solutions come from outside the industry. One piece of advice I would give is not to immediately try to fix a problem. Instead, understand the nature of the problem and the complications surrounding it. Obviously, if the ship is sinking you need to plug the hole—but oftentimes, some careful scrutiny works better. - Zain Jaffer, Zain Ventures
14. Leverage KPIs and Metrics for Progress Monitoring
A well-established framework for innovation comprises key performance indicators and metrics to monitor progress and evaluate the impact of innovation initiatives. This approach, which is based on data, offers significant insights into what's effective and what's not, allowing businesses to iterate and enhance their innovation processes over time. - Tammy Sons, Tn Nursery
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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