Most organizations have plenty of forward-thinking people who want to innovate. Getting initiatives off the ground, however, is a different story. Oftentimes, it requires taking a leap into the unknown, and there is a good chance you will only achieve the desired result after several attempts.

Moreover, you will be held accountable if things don’t go right the first time. Sticking with your old ways or implementing internal alternatives can feel safer. Nevertheless, it is a shame if you don’t innovate, because you won’t improve.

Choosing a different route can lead to many new insights. True, it requires more time and effort. But once you succeed, there are ample benefits to reap. In this blog, we will list the three main reasons why an organization should embrace innovation. Hopefully, it will set you off in the right direction and help you unlock your company’s potential!

1. Future- and millennial-minded

Today’s young talents are the employees of the future. Therefore, it is not only important to attract them; you should also offer them a work environment that allows for growth and development.

Especially well-educated millennials want to contribute their bit and like to be heard. When they present their ideas, you should not make them feel as if they run into a stone wall. Allow them to help you change and improve, and they will.

2. Continuous improvement

‘How can we do things in a different and better way?’ It is a question you should be asking all the time. Only then, you will be able to organize your processes in the most efficient and effective possible manner. Co-creation can be very fruitful in this context: by involving your customers or suppliers in your innovation process, you can work on securing your organizational future while strengthening your relationships.

Incidentally, don’t forget to make participants in an experimental project sign a document which states that you may not yet meet all requirements during this stage. At the same time, tell them you firmly believe that your efforts will be advantageous in the near future.

3. Team and company culture with adaptive power

The world is innovating at a rapid speed, and management can’t afford to lag behind. For example, when flex working found its way to offices all around the globe, many organizations quickly redesigned their interiors to welcome the concept.

No more office booths or assigned desks: even CEOs should sit randomly at any desk available at the moment. It sounded great, but in many cases, management had claimed its ‘own’ corner within a month. The result: work processes were not adapted to new ways of working, and nothing improved.

In our other innovation blogs, we will discuss how you can recognize and eliminate such innovation killers!

‍