How to Encourage Innovation in the Workplace
For a business to be competitive and grow, staying "as is" doesn't cut it. Successful businesses should be constantly innovating, seeking ways to improve, and new ideas and opportunities. Here, we've gathered insights from 13 business leaders on best practices for fostering innovation in their companies.
Ways to encourage workplace innovation
1. Listen to your customers
"Start by engaging in active customer listening. By diving into customer feedback, reviews, and social media chatter, you can unearth hidden gems of insight about unmet needs or pain points. To ensure you're focusing on the right areas for innovation, prioritize issues that align with your core strengths and market demands. It's like being a detective, but instead of solving crimes, you're solving business challenges with creative solutions. Plus, happy customers make for a thriving business—and that's a win-win worth innovating for."
—Viola Eva, Flow Agency
2. Keep a list of annoyances
"Keep a list of the things that frustrate or annoy you throughout your workday. You can also invite your entire team to share their small gripes by having a box or an online form, even if they don't have a solution in mind. This kind of crowdsourced approach can be ideal because it lets you also see which areas to target first. If multiple people are annoyed by the same thing, that's an area you'll likely see significant benefits from finding a new approach.
"I also recommend consulting the team when you're ready to find a new solution to one of these annoyances. Have a brainstorming session where you try to generate as many possible solutions or alternatives as you can think of, even if some of them seem ridiculous or impractical. Coming up with a wide variety of ideas can spur creativity, generating even more ideas that the team may not have originally thought of, which will help you to find the absolute best new innovation to try in that area."
—Jon Hill, The Energists
3. Leverage social media
"To find new opportunities, I spend a lot of time on social media platforms like X and LinkedIn. Every day, I see what our competitors are up to, what industry leaders are talking about, and what customers are discussing. This helps me catch new trends and figure out where we can do better. As an example, if a competitor gets positive feedback for a new feature, I check it out to see if we can develop and improve on it. It’s about learning and evolving, not just copying.
"Being active in LinkedIn groups is also really useful. Joining conversations keeps me updated and shows that we’re engaged with the industry. Sharing our insights and learning from others sparks new ideas and keeps us ahead."
—Scott Cohen, InboxArmy
4. Encourage small daily innovations
"Years ago, I read a book called Ideas Are Free, and I try to implement that strategy in my business. The short summary is that most innovations are small and feel insignificant. Companies that push for massive innovation tend to fail, but companies like Toyota put all of their effort into minor improvements each day. The little things add up, and it's best to just push your team to come up with ideas daily instead of one big win."
—Taryn Pumphrey, Ledger Lift
5. Assess inefficiencies with analytics tools
"It's important to always be assessing where inefficiencies are happening and implement processes to address those accordingly. For example, if your team struggles with communication or project management, find a solution that will promote better accountability, like project management software. To be certain the right areas are successfully being addressed, you can then utilize performance analytics tools to compare data from before the new strategies were implemented. This will help you determine whether those areas have improved or still need attention."
—John Hall, Calendar.com
6. Utilize ChatGPT
"ChatGPT—honestly, I use it for nearly everything now. Provide it with a framework, conduct a competitor analysis, and you've got reams of innovative ideas. You can then use ChatGPT to design an implementation and A/B testing plan to ensure the idea for innovation is what your customers or audience want."
—Simon Bacher, Ling
7. Create a customer journey map
"Sometimes, the secret lies in truly understanding your customers. I use customer journey mapping. It's essentially a way to visualize the entire customer experience, from the minute they first hear about my product to after they've purchased it.
"By mapping this journey, I can see all the touchpoints where they connect with my business. I can also identify any pain points—those disappointing moments that make things difficult for them. By understanding customer problems and working together, we can keep innovating and make things better for everyone."
—David Magnani, M&A Executive Search
8. Hold "failure analysis" sessions
"One unique thing I've done to find innovation opportunities is holding 'failure analysis' sessions. Instead of celebrating successes, we dissect projects that didn't meet expectations.
"For instance, once upon a time, we launched a new service that totally flopped. I did not hide it from the team, but instead called for members to come together and investigate what happened. We came to understand that our assumptions regarding the needs of the customers were wrong. This frank evaluation brought out gaps that we had never thought about before. This procedure led us to formulate a fresh approach that prioritized users' direct involvement in testing products. Focusing on customer pain points that caused our initial failure, we found innovative solutions that hit home better with our audience.
"I encourage other businesses to embrace failure as a source of inspiration. Analyze what worked and what did not, and use those insights as guideposts for your next step. Traditional feedback approaches often miss out on breakthroughs resulting from open-mindedness and curiosity."
—Cassie Fields, AutoLeap
9. Map processes to uncover areas of improvement
"Conduct regular process mapping and analysis. This involves thoroughly documenting each step in our logistics operations, from order receipt to final delivery, and critically examining every touchpoint. By visualizing the entire process, we can spot bottlenecks, redundancies, and areas where technology or new approaches could streamline operations. This method often reveals unexpected opportunities for improvement that may not be apparent in day-to-day operations.
"To ensure you're focusing on the right areas for innovation, I also recommend establishing a systematic approach to gathering and analyzing data. This could involve implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) across different aspects of the business and regularly reviewing them to identify underperforming areas. Also, fostering open communication channels with employees at all levels and customers can provide valuable insights into pain points and potential areas for improvement."
—Adam Lenhart, Optimum Supply Chain Recruiters
10. Involve employees in the idea process
"We spark innovation by getting our team involved and rewarding their ideas. We created a program where employees earn recognition and rewards for suggesting improvements. It's not just about money—we give shout-outs in meetings and feature their ideas in our newsletter. This makes everyone feel valued and motivates them to think creatively.
"We also dedicate two hours each week for our team to focus on research and developing their ideas. Giving people time away from their regular tasks to explore new concepts leads to some amazing results. It's incredible what folks come up with when they have the space to think freely.
"I also recommend making sure your team understands the company’s goals and challenges. When everyone knows where the business is headed and what obstacles lie ahead, they can better direct their innovative efforts. Create an environment where brainstorming is flexible and open.
"Being open to feedback and ready to change course if needed is also crucial. Great ideas can come from anywhere, so listening to all suggestions can lead to breakthroughs you didn't expect."
—Holly Andrews, KIS Finance
11. Combine customer insights with data analysis
"We identify innovation opportunities by engaging directly with customers. It helps to understand their needs. We support these insights with data analysis. This approach allows us to test and refine solutions to ensure they remain relevant and effective. To stay ahead, we monitor industry trends and emerging technologies. If new developments or customer insights align with our strategic goals, we engage with them. This approach ensures that we focus on the right areas of innovation."
—Carl Jacobs, Apicbase
12. Listen to your clients
"As a marketing consultant focused on healthcare, one approach I've found to be effective is simply talking to physicians and office managers to understand their biggest challenges. Through these conversations, I've identified key opportunities, like improving social media marketing to reach new patients, or providing flexible patient communication solutions for small practices. I also conduct annual surveys with client practices to discuss how we can better serve them. The feedback has led to new services that practices now rely on.
"The key is listening to your clients and community. Don't assume you know what they need—ask them directly. Look for pain points you can resolve, and innovate in ways that provide real value. If you do that, you'll focus on the right areas."
—Jeff McGeary, PracticeVIP LLC
13. Lift people to innovate
"You don't have to look externally to find your business's next big thing. Make sure that your employees feel empowered to share their ideas because sometimes, you'll find that the best ideas come from within the company itself (because who knows it better!)."
—Breanna Hendry, Minky Couture
About the Author
Post by: Brett Farmiloe
Brett Farmiloe is the founder and CEO of Featured, a platform where business leaders can answer questions related to their expertise and get published in articles featuring their insights.
Company: Featured
Website: www.featured.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
