You're leading a team stuck in old ways. How can you ignite a spark of innovation?

From my experience, when the team is stuck in its old ways; there is usually a disconnect as to the expectations around the task. It is here that leadership is crucial. Collaboration to understand the issues is important, but the top priority should be to restate the expectations of the current project and associated tasks and then understand where the issues are. Many times in these cases, the issue at hand is discussed but it is never looked at in context to the big picture. By starting with the big picture and going down, the team is able to see their expectations in a better light and the issue and new ideas are better discussed ana aligned to move forward.

Labelling current methods as "old ways" can sound judgmental. It's important to remember that not everything traditional is bad. These practices might be what the team finds most efficient. To truly innovate, break down these methods. Identify what’s working well and what has potential for optimisation. This balanced approach respects the team's existing efforts while paving the way for improvement.

Access to Resources: Tools and Technology: Provide the necessary tools, technologies, and resources to support innovative work. Training and Development: Offer training and development opportunities to build skills that foster innovation, such as creative thinking, problem-solving, and design thinking.

I would start by being curious and asking plenty of questions: what works about the 'old ways'? What feels easy doing it the 'old way'? What is problematic with it? What would be even better than the old way? What does doing it differently offer us?

Before introducing new ideas, assess the value of what already exists. Listen to the team's concerns about changing their work methods. Be open to and value their contributions. Acknowledge what they have achieved. Building trust with the team is a priority because they may view removing their working methods as an opportunity to eliminate them. This work is essential and will provide the foundation for introducing change.

Igniting a spark of innovation in a team stuck in old ways requires a mix of cultural change, encouragement of creativity, and practical support. Establish a Vision: Communicate the Importance: Clearly communicate why innovation is crucial for the team and organization. Tie it to the organization’s vision and goals. Set Innovation Goals: Define specific, achievable goals for innovation. Make it clear what you’re aiming to achieve through new ideas and approaches. Lead by Example: Model Innovative Behavior: Demonstrate openness to new ideas and take calculated risks yourself. Show that you value and reward innovative thinking. Be Approachable: Maintain an open-door policy and encourage team members to share their ideas and concerns.

Setting clear goals is essential for guiding your team towards innovation and ensuring everyone understands their role in achieving these objectives. Define the Vision and Objectives Clearly communicate the overarching vision for innovation and how it aligns with the organization’s goals. Make sure this vision is inspiring and gives a sense of purpose. Explain why innovation is crucial for the team and how it will benefit both the organization and individual team members. Ensure that each goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This helps in creating clear and actionable targets. Make sure all goals are aligned with the overall vision and contribute to the long-term objectives of the organization.

AI: Your Strategic Partner #AI is a strategic partner that has the capacity to leverage mondane, repetitive tasks that are important but time consuming. Host a fun and engaging #brainstorming session challenging the team to create prompts to explore new possibilities! Now let AI do the heavy lifting to synthesize the data. Its ability to handle data, automate tasks, and provide actionable insights empowers leaders to focus on strategic initiatives that will drive their organizations forward. #LeadLoudly #bold #courageous #leadership #technology #data

Resources: time, people, energy, money. But how do you do this especially when the well might be a little depleted? When you've got dispersed teams it's even more of a challenge. Introducing to AI is part of the equation as AI can be a partner, but to a limited extent, as the people in the company are aware of specific to obstacles and challenges that the algorithm isn't. Knowing how to mindmap, how to fit ideation into 10 minute pieces which can be done virtually, and being aware of *free resources you already have* such as journalling techniques can make creative problem solving truly innovative, even more if there's accountability for ideas generated and evidence that they're considered as part of the outcome.

Recognize and Reward Innovation Celebrate Creativity: Public Recognition: Publicly recognize and celebrate innovative ideas and contributions. Highlight examples of successful innovation. Incentives and Rewards: Implement a reward system for innovative ideas that are implemented, such as bonuses, awards, or career advancement opportunities. Encourage Peer Recognition: Recognition Programs: Establish programs where team members can nominate each other for innovative contributions. Team Celebrations: Organize team celebrations to acknowledge collective achievements and foster a sense of camaraderie.

Acknowledge and celebrate small wins along the way. Recognizing achievements, no matter how small, can boost morale and encourage further innovation. For example, if a team member comes up with a new idea that improves efficiency, celebrate this success in a team meeting.

Embracing failure is crucial for fostering innovation and continuous improvement within a team. When failure is seen as a learning opportunity rather than a setback, it can lead to greater creativity and resilience. Shift the Mindset Communicate the Value: Emphasize that failure is a natural part of the innovation process. Share stories of successful people and organizations that have experienced failures. Redefine Success: Redefine success to include learning and growth, not just end results. Encourage a mindset where the journey and lessons learned are valued as much as the outcome.

Create a culture where failure is seen as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. Encourage your team to experiment and take calculated risks without the fear of repercussions. For instance, you might say, “It’s okay if this idea doesn’t work out. What’s important is that we tried something new and learned from it.”

I think the solution here goes hand in hand with that of another leadership article I just read. When people are stuck in old ways, it’s usually because they have not jumped on the new bandwagon. The bandwagon in this example being the companies direction. This can be because they are either willingly not adapting of unknowingly not adapting. I cannot overstate the important of meetings and formal discussions with the team when the company changes direction of reaches a milestone. Nobody will change unless they want to, but that starts with informing them of the need. If you think of it from an employee perspective, why change your ways if it’s getting the job done, helping the workday go by, and completing the weeks tasks? Makes sense.

Sharing the learning and experience and gaining the learning and experience with the team members it's a two way communication Building a relationship with that right kind of empathy reciprocity authority accountability #Leadership #leader #authority #teambuilding

Leadership by Example: Demonstrate your commitment to innovation by being open to new ideas and willing to change your own ways. Continuous Learning: Encourage a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Provide opportunities for professional development and stay updated with industry trends. Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment where team members can work together and share knowledge. Cross-functional teams can bring diverse perspectives and drive innovation.