What is innovation? What is creativity? What is the difference between innovation and creativity? But most importantly, which is more important to your organization? When it comes to innovation vs. creativity, opinions diverge.
One of the definitions out there relates to the practicality of these terms. Some say that creativity refers to the ability to come up with new ideas or new ways to approach old problems, whereas innovation is the ability to confine these creative ideas and make them turn into reality. In other words, creative ideas are thought experiments within one person’s mind.
Innovation, on the other hand, is concerned with the actual implementation of an idea. An organization can use innovation to convert its creative resources into appropriate solutions and reap a return on its investment. Because people are often unclear about the exact meanings of these two terms, organizations often chase creativity, but what they really need to pursue is innovation.
This month, Bayt.com conducted a poll to measure the extent to which organizations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are perceived to be innovative. This Bayt.com poll, entitled “Innovation in the MENA Workplace”, January 2014, uncovered some very interesting insights into the world of innovation in the region. For example, 83% of respondents claim their organizations have long-term innovation strategies, while 85% state that they enjoy enough slack time at work to explore new ideas.
In light of the above, organizations need innovation on all fronts, not just in new products, services, or technologies. Unfortunately, many managers don’t innovate because they don’t think it’s their job to do so. Well, we say that innovation is everyone’s job. Great organizations don’t depend on a small number of exclusive people to come up with innovations. Instead they create a culture in which every employee is encouraged and empowered to innovate – whether it’s in processes, products, or services. This leads not only to new customer offerings but also better margins, stickier customer relationships, and stronger partnerships with other firms.
In fact, 62% of those who took part in the Bayt.com “Innovation in the MENA Workplace” poll say that innovation has led to improved financial performance for their company, while 64% agree that their organization is more innovative compared to competition.
Here are 10 ways to encourage innovation at your workplace:
1. Give employees a reason to care.
The fact is, if people aren’t feeling connected to your company, there’s little incentive for them to be innovative. Make sure your employees are in the loop on your firm’s strategies and challenges, and invite their input. Employees who are involved early on in processes and plans will be motivated to see them through to completion. Their active participation will fuel more ideas than if they learn of initiatives firsthand.
2. Stress the importance of innovation.
Ensure all your employees know that you want to hear their ideas. Unless they understand how innovating your business processes can keep your firm competitive, your efforts at encouraging creative thinking risk falling flat.
3. Schedule time for brainstorming.
Allocate time for new ideas to emerge. For example, set aside time for brainstorming, hold regular group workshops and arrange team days out. A team involved in a brainstorming session is likely to be more effective than the sum of its parts. You can also place suggestion boxes around the workplace, appeal for new ideas to solve particular problems and always keep your door open to new ideas.
4. Train staff in innovation techniques.
Your staff may be able to bounce an idea around, but be unfamiliar with the skills involved in creative problem-solving. You may find training sessions in formal techniques such as lateral thinking and mind-mapping worthwhile.
5. Encourage change.
Broadening people’s experiences can be a great way to spark ideas. Short-term job swaps can introduce a fresh perspective to job roles. Encourage people to look at how other businesses do things, even those in other sectors, and consider how they can be adapted or improved. According to the Bayt.com “Innovation in the MENA Workplace” poll, 69% state that their companies keep up-to-date with other organizations in their field and adopt best practices.
6. Challenge the way staff work.
Encourage employees to keep looking anew at the way they approach their work. Ask people whether they have considered alternative ways of working and what might be achieved by doing things differently. 78% of respondents in the Bayt.com “Innovation in the MENA Workplace” poll say that new ideas are encouraged and tried out.
7. Be supportive.
Respond enthusiastically to all ideas and never make someone offering an idea feel foolish. Give even the most apparently eccentric of ideas a chance to be aired.
8. Tolerate mistakes.
A certain amount of risk-taking is inevitable with innovation. Allow people to learn from their mistakes. Never put off the creative flow by penalizing those whose ideas don’t work out.
9. Reward creativity.
Be among the 44% of companies that reward their employees’ creativity (according to the Bayt.com “Innovation in the MENA Workplace” poll). Motivate individuals or teams who come up with winning ideas by actively recognizing innovation, for example through an awards scheme. You could even demonstrate your recognition that not all ideas work out by rewarding those who just have a rich flow of suggestions, regardless of whether they are put into action at work.
10. Act on ideas.
Remember, innovation is only worthwhile if it results in action. Provide the time and resources to develop and implement those ideas worth acting upon. Failure to do so not only means your firm will fail to benefit from innovation, but flow of ideas may well dry up if employees feel the process is pointless.
