Create a culture of innovation

Learn best practice tips for leaders to strengthen creativity and innovation in the workplace. Creating a work environment where creativity can thrive is no easy feat. Keeping these 8 keys of leadership top of mind and putting them into practice daily will provide the right setting for teams to be brave, come up with new ideas, and lead to innovation within your company. 

1. Encourage risk taking: 
Be open to team members taking risks and speaking their minds. Refrain from ridicule and offer support. For example, when an idea doesn't work out, suggest ways to improve instead of placing blame. 

2. Trust: 
Count on others to do their job and contribute the best of their ability to deliver high quality work. Meet deadlines. Strive to provide an example of the work ethic you want your team to adopt.

3. Provide clear direction: 
Be sure everyone understands what part they play on the team and how to get the job done to help the team succeed. When assigning projects, ask team members to explain what their next steps are for added clarity. 

4. Make meaning: 
Individual, personal satisfaction in the job being performed is a key element to the success of a team. As Guy Kawaski says, "Make meaning instead of making money." Engage in conversations with your team that take a high-level or 'balcony' approach to help team members understand the value the team provides. 

5. Observe: 
Too often our willingness to pay attention is low and a lot of observations that could be seen are not capitalized on. Improving these skills can build a stronger interconnection with the external environment and shed light on unnoticed opportunities for innovation and creativity. A small example to improve this skill is to hold a meeting in a different place. A larger example is to take a cross-cultural trip. 

6. Accept failure as part of success:
Fail, fail again, fail better. The truth about remarkable creativity is a long road with failure being inevitable. Some of the best ideas are products of failed ideas. Engaging with these failures and learning from them develops new insights and even greater curiosity. People who are taught to think about failure in a more positive manner are not only more creative, but more resilient.

7. Impact: 
Creativity is less likely to occur when employees are not empowered to try new things. This includes permission, space, and resources available. When these things are provided, a creative culture can be established. There are numerous studies that show the benefits of increased workplace satisfaction and productivity. 

8. Curiosity: 
When people think of curiosity, they may not think of qualities such as empathy, creativity, innovation, and the ability to learn quickly; but it's just that! Curiosity allows us to work in uncertainty which opens our minds to new ideas, skills, and ways of problem solving. As Albert Einstein once said, "I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious."