How do you keep innovative programs going?

2 Build a strong team and culture

The second step to sustaining your innovation is to cultivate a strong team and culture that supports your program. Who are the key people involved in your program, and what are their roles and responsibilities? How do you recruit, train, and retain your staff and volunteers? How do you foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement among your team members? How do you recognize and reward their contributions and achievements? Having a strong team and culture will help you create a positive and productive environment for your program.

3 Secure and diversify your resources

The third step to sustaining your innovation is to secure and diversify your resources that enable your program. What are the financial, material, and human resources that you need to run your program effectively and efficiently? How do you secure and manage your budget and funding sources? How do you leverage and optimize your existing resources and assets? How do you seek and create new opportunities and partnerships to diversify your resources and expand your reach? Having a secure and diversified resource base will help you reduce your risks and increase your opportunities for your program.

4 Adapt and innovate

The fourth step to sustaining your innovation is to adapt and innovate in response to changing needs and contexts. How do you collect and use feedback from your students, teachers, parents, and partners to improve your program? How do you identify and address the challenges and gaps in your program? How do you anticipate and respond to the emerging trends and opportunities in your field? How do you experiment and test new ideas and approaches to enhance your program? Having a flexible and innovative mindset will help you keep your program relevant and effective.

5 Share and learn

The fifth step to sustaining your innovation is to share and learn from your experiences and best practices. How do you document and disseminate your program's model, methods, and outcomes? How do you connect and collaborate with other innovators and practitioners in your field? How do you participate and contribute to the professional learning communities and networks that support your program? How do you seek and access the latest research and evidence that inform your program? Having a sharing and learning attitude will help you increase your visibility and credibility, as well as learn from others.

6 Celebrate and inspire

The sixth and final step to sustaining your innovation is to celebrate and inspire others with your program's impact and stories. How do you acknowledge and appreciate your team, students, teachers, parents, and partners for their involvement and support? How do you showcase and highlight your program's achievements and successes? How do you inspire and influence others to adopt or adapt your program's innovation? How do you advocate and advance your program's vision and mission? Having a celebratory and inspirational spirit will help you create a lasting legacy for your program.