Once of the most frequently asked questions I field from managers is: How do I start to create a culture of companywide creativity and innovation?
I love the question because I believe that innovation must occur at every level of the company. Now, that doesn’t mean (necessarily) that the receptionist is going to create your next breakthrough product. But it does mean that everyone must look for and find a way to do their work better than it’s ever been done before, and to do that at as often as possible, even every day.
But the answer to the question is very challenging, because I so often hear the sound of “idea silence” in both big and small businesses. It sounds like this:
“I can’t get my ideas heard.”
“I’ve suggested several improvements, but nothing came of it.”
“We have a command and control culture. Forget creativity.”
Sound familiar? So what’s a manager to do?
To read the full, original article click on this link: How to Start Building a Culture of Innovation : The World :: American Express OPEN Forum
Author: Matthew E. May is an innovation consultant and the author of In Pursuit of Elegance: Why the Best Ideas Have Something Missing. He blogs here. You can follow him on Twitter here.
