As Robert Tucker noted, “Innovation is everyone’s business.” If we are to unpack this a little bit more, it simply says that in order for an innovation system to be successful, all of its members must be enabled to participate in whichever way they would desire. Over the years, I have come to realise that whilst we value the need to innovate and understand the potential impact that could have on our business, our customers, and our broader stakeholders, as organisations there are a few things that we still need to get right. In writing this piece, I thought to leave you with at least some key pointers on what you need to consider as you start your innovation journey. Building a culture of innovation, like any other pursuit, is not an event; it is a journey that one must make with deliberate focus and intent.

Upon reflection over the years passed and lessons learned I do sincerely believe that as leaders, if we acknowledge the need to inspire, to organise, to synergise, to empower and to reward, we are well on our way to fostering the desired innovation culture.

Inspire– It takes but a second for a person to be struck by a moment of inspiration which starts something that changes the world. We all need inspiration and as business leaders we need to be sensitive to the very important role we hold in our businesses to provide an inspiring vision and lead in a manner that invites and celebrates innovation. The emphasis need be on providing opportunities and removing obstacles wherever they may be. Trust your people and give them the latitude to explore solutions to their most challenging needs.

Organize – In your organisations, it’s important to promote organized chaos. We tend to think of chaos in the negative, however, it is in these charged environments that some of the best ideas are born. As a business, the focus should therefore be on establishing guiding structures and create systems and processes that support collaborating and fostering internal and external relationships to support the innovation process. It is in this collaborative environment that teams can fully leverage diversity by facilitating the cross-pollination of ideas and creating, as well as empowering cross functional teams.