Innovation Isn’t Just About Great Ideas.

Innovation is often mistaken for brainstorming around a conference room table or implementing cutting-edge technology. In reality, great ideas don’t come to fruition without a much more intentional force behind them: culture. Without an environment that allows innovation to thrive, the most creative ideas—and people—quietly fade away.

The most innovative organizations build an environment where innovation is embedded in everything they do. They show consistent patterns across several dimensions, allowing people in the organization to feel safe to think and lead differently.

Giving teams the space to collaborate across disciplines and break down silos is often a first step to building a culture of innovation. When teams are encouraged to take on the problems they see and solve them without interference from above (read: micromanagement), they feel a sense of ownership. That ownership often leads to more great ideas being implemented to support customers, clients and partners. It also leads to better outcomes.

Innovation is also about structure. Without structure, ideas are often just that—ideas. It’s structure that empowers teams to show up collaboratively and create environments that bring new ideas to life. Having clear structures, processes and investments in place that are focused on allowing creative freedom leads to out-of-the-box thinking and new ways of doing things.

Leading innovative teams and organizations is a choice. It isn’t about trends or technology. It’s about leaders at all levels of the organization making practical, people-centered decisions that shape how work gets done and how ideas come alive.

Will you be the leader who makes that choice?