If there’s one thing that this pandemic has shown us, it’s that versatility and innovation are ever present in a crisis. As a result of the coronavirus many businesses had to transform and quickly make the shift to ‘online’ whilst thinking of inventive ways to deliver their service.
Now that businesses have seen what they are capable of, the question becomes, how to maintain this level of determination and innovation within the culture of the organisation. So that they can continue to succeed with an attitude towards ‘getting the job done’. Below we have suggested some things to consider, in order to achieve this.
Leadership
Quite understandably a culture of innovation needs to begin at the senior level, with CEOs and managers adopting this outlook so that it can filter down into the lower levels of the organisation, and become ingrained in its philosophy and business environment. This idea can be accomplished when managers accept a more transformative leadership style so as to encourage employees to be imaginative and take risks.
In addition to this, leaders need to encourage collaboration between employees and teams within their organisation. Having multiple people working together, bringing their different ideas and perspectives, can only facilitate growth in the project. Which leads nicely to the next point about prioritising people.
Prioritise People
Whilst it is essential to celebrate success as a whole, you also need to recognise the people that have thought ‘outside the box’ and created this innovative idea, whether that be a new initiative or an improvement on an old procedure. You may decide to acknowledge them in front of their colleagues, or privately in a one-to-one meeting, but the important thing is that receiving recognition for a job well done can be a huge motivator for people to continue to innovate.
It has also been identified that in organisations where employees feel valued, they are more likely to pursue their creative ideas no matter the outcome. Foster that feeling of value; a simple way to achieve this is to include employees in decision making for things that directly impact them.
Be Retrospective
In all the excitement that innovation and transforming your business develops, it can be all too easy to think ‘full steam ahead’ and forget to look back at what you have achieved. Having a retrospective approach will allow you to perhaps identify the things that haven’t worked previously and realise further improvements and potential for your business.
Having considered these three things, the success that your organisation has achieved during this crisis, with regards to innovation, will be carried on into the post-pandemic world.
