{"id":8982,"date":"2019-12-01T09:14:15","date_gmt":"2019-12-01T09:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging-mondaycomblog.kinsta.cloud\/?p=8982"},"modified":"2024-10-06T08:16:49","modified_gmt":"2024-10-06T08:16:49","slug":"how-leaders-can-create-a-culture-of-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/monday.com\/blog\/teamwork\/how-leaders-can-create-a-culture-of-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"How leaders can create a culture of innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Innovation drives us forward. From DNA sequencing to electric cars to the smartphone in your hand, we\u2019ve seen a dizzying array of innovations over the past few decades. As author Victor Hugo wrote back in 1877, \u201cThere is only one thing stronger than all the armies of the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.\u201d The right thought at the right moment can change everything. But what is innovation, really? According to Collins English dictionary<\/a>, it\u2019s \u201cthe introduction of new ideas, methods, or things.\u201d Sounds simple enough. Yet, in business, it\u2019s not easy to build an innovative company \u2014 a place where creativity rules and people embrace new possibilities.<\/p>\n

Two prerequisites for innovation<\/h2>\n

Organizations that consistently land on the \u201cworld\u2019s most innovative companies\u201d lists have two things in common:<\/p>\n

An awesome product or service<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You need to start with something that people would line up for. It sounds obvious, but many companies forget the \u201cawesome\u201d part. It\u2019s not enough to make something that works. And even if you have a great product, you have to keep pushing the boundaries. Ambitious companies also attract ambitious employees. Smart, talented people want to make an impact. Take Toronto restaurant Ruby Watchco, for example. Chefs Lynn Crawford and Lora Kirk serve a new menu every night<\/em>. That\u2019s right. No two visits here are ever the same. Crawford is a food celebrity who often appears on TV shows like Top<\/em>Chef<\/em> and Chopped<\/em>. She and Kirk could repeat the same dishes for months and still fill seats. But they keep stretching themselves. They continue to innovate.<\/p>\n

An appetite for change<\/h3>\n

A company that doesn\u2019t evolve will eventually kill its product. Think of brands like Kodak and Xerox, which missed the boat on emerging technologies. At my company, JotForm<\/a>, we never switch lanes, but we\u2019re always trying to improve our product. We constantly want to make it smarter, more beautiful, and easier to use.<\/p>\n

Nurturing a Culture of Innovation<\/h2>\n

Innovation doesn\u2019t guarantee a smash hit every time. Building momentum is what matters. And as a leader, you need to encourage risk-taking. Here\u2019s how to nurture a culture of innovation, whether you\u2019re just starting out or leading a large, well-established team.<\/p>\n

Create long-term strategies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s tough to reach a new destination when you don\u2019t have a map. Creating a big-picture strategy \u2014 and sharing it with your employees \u2014 will guide decision-making. It can also help everyone to understand (and stick to) their top priorities. Every January, I set a new focus area for the year. It could be something like \u201cmobile\u201d or \u201cdata\u201d or \u201cproductivity.\u201d We still do the day-to-day work, like answering customer support questions<\/a> and fixing bugs, but we channel our creative energy into this year-long challenge. The strategy informs the new features we develop and how we think about the product.<\/p>\n

Assign flexible projects<\/h3>\n

Once you have your strategy in place, it\u2019s time to dig in and explore. Asking open-ended questions, like \u201cHow can we create a better mobile product?\u201d gives everyone room for innovation<\/a>. As your team tackles the question, they can use data collection methods such as research, interviews, customer feedback, and experimentation to see what comes up. Looking at other markets and industries can also get the creative juices flowing. Studies led by Vanderbilt University researcher David H. Zald show that trying new things<\/a> triggers the brain to release dopamine, a chemical that boosts motivation and innovation. The more we can change up tasks, projects, and even perspectives, the more we\u2019re primed to create.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t set unnecessary deadlines<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The software industry is well known for its grimly named \u201cdeath marches.\u201d These happen when leaders set arbitrary and often wildly ambitious deadlines. Everyone knows the time frame is nearly impossible, but they feel pressure to agree. Teams work 80-hour weeks to reach this random target, forgoing sleep, exercise, and time with family and friends. And when it\u2019s over, everyone breathes a sigh of relief \u2014 until the next death march. There\u2019s no need for all this stress and anxiety. Some leaders worry that if they don\u2019t set a release date, nothing will happen, but that\u2019s rarely the case. Without employing aggressive time management strategies, you can still have check-ins to gauge progress and keep everyone on track while tackling open-ended projects. At JotForm, we have Demo Days every Friday. Our teams show what they\u2019re working on and get feedback from the group. These show-and-tell sessions get everyone excited to continue. And we only set launch dates when a new product version is totally ready. Then we can plan backward to ensure a sane lead-up.<\/p>\n

Inspire people to be their authentic selves<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When Colleen Barret was the executive vice-president of Southwest Airlines, she encouraged flight attendants to deliver the legally required safety instructions in their own style. As a result, staff often infused a routine moment with humor and personality, to their passengers\u2019 delight<\/a>. Barrett\u2019s approach also helped Southwest become a top performer<\/a> in profitability, passenger volume, customer satisfaction, and turnover. When people are free to express themselves, they\u2019re more likely to innovate. They can bring their whole selves to work. Authenticity is contagious, and it can spread the spirit of creativity throughout your team<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A final word<\/h2>\n

Innovation begins with a solid foundation of quality and the ability to navigate change. Once those are in place, you\u2019re able to dream even bigger. Imagine what\u2019s possible for your company and your team. Ask open-ended questions, give people freedom to experiment, and don\u2019t set haphazard deadlines in the name of productivity. Innovation needs space to breathe. It can\u2019t always be rushed, but it can definitely be nurtured.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Innovation drives us forward. From DNA sequencing to electric cars to the smartphone in your hand, we\u2019ve seen a dizzying array of innovations over the past few decades. As author Victor Hugo wrote back in 1877, \u201cThere is only one thing stronger than all the armies of the world, and …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Creating a Culture of Innovation | monday.com Blog","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Aytekin Tank, the founder and CEO of JotForm, explains how leaders can create a culture of innovation in their companies and 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