My take on innovation is that it is NOT the most kept secret of only few chosen ones.
Everyone can be innovative, it is just matter of a mindset.
From my experience with managing innovation programs across teams, you need to keep your focus on 3 key drivers:
#1 - Culture
Make innovation a culture, not 'one time' event. Identify & onboard the innovation change agents, with them together, make innovation a routine. It is not only about ideas. It is about learning how innovate (so many formulas!), inspire the people with out-of-the-box lectures, celebrate small innovation success - people need to see innovation in action, not just talk about it. From time to time, you may want to consider giving a challenge for people to ideate around it.
#2 - Mentoring
Someone raised idea? great!
now what?!
I noticed few types of people at this point, the ones that bring great ideas and that's it, the ones that bring great ideas and know how to execute, and the ones the knows to execute.
You want to find a place for all in your innovation program.
By establishing a mentoring program, you should pair the idea owner with an experienced execution person, and it is win-win. As the Innovation lead, you should oversee all of those pairs and guide them.
Great idea that is left as an idea, is a bad idea.
#3 - Fail fast & iterate
It is really essential part of the success, to fail fast :)
Need to develop tolerant for failure, or people won’t push the envelop and come with exponential ideas, you will left only with incremental innovation.
I really believe in it personally as a way of life. Always try and iterate. Make it a habit as part of the team culture. People will feel more comfortable to come with ideas, try it out, fail, pivot, and sometimes, even experience a success :)
