Encouraging Innovation in the Workplace - Robert Half

Let's continue in our talk about innovation, by talking about businesses in New Zealand. 

New Zealand might seem very far away but the thoughts in the article by the international organization Robert Half are applicable to companies all around the globe.

Robert Half is an international specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly skilled job seekers to opportunities at companies around the world (About Robert Half | Robert Half). This article was originally published by the New Zealand division of the company but there is something we can take from it for companies in general who want to improve innovation.

As identified in a survey by the organization, the primary roadblocks to innovation include a lack of innovative ideas, excessive bureaucracy, and employees overwhelmed by daily tasks. The article introduces ten strategies to overcome these challenges and promote innovation.

1.  Engage employees by keeping them connected to the company’s strategies and challenges. That invites their input and can motivates them to contribute to the success of and innovation of the company.

2.  Trust employees to take safe risks and try new approaches without too much criticism. This empowers and can lead to breakthrough solutions.

3.  Keep management office doors open, actively valuing employee input, and use various channels like intranets and suggestion boxes to keep communication channels open and flowing.

4.  Find out and then remove processes within the organization that hinder fast implementation of recommendations. This will avoid demoralization and, in the meantime, streamline processes.

5.  There is a big difference between collaboration and competition, and by encouraging collaboration companies can create a supportive work environment where employees are comfortable sharing without the risk of someone taking their ideas away from them using them against the suggester.

6.  Create a safe environment where employees feel safe sharing by appreciating creativity. Allowing written submissions if employees are uncomfortable sharing otherwise might bring astonishing results.

7.  Employees who are overworked are far less likely to be creative since everything is geared toward preventing burnout so preventing overworking is an important component of encouraging innovation.

8.  Implementing programs that support work-life balance, redistributing workloads, and bringing in temporary professionals during peak demands are just some practical ways to prevent burnout and therefore give employees a chance to be creative.

9.  If employees are to be innovative, be the leader, be the model of creative thinking to inspire teams.

10.Reduce the stress of employees by taking breaks and ensure employees have access to training and education, since that enhances their knowledge and expertise, which in the long run, benefits the company.

By implementing the strategies explained above, companies in New Zealand and around the world can enhance their innovation and create more productive and innovative workplaces.

Here is the link to the complete article on the Robert Half website:

How to encourage innovation in the workplace | Robert Half®

Strategies for improving creativity and with that, innovation, seem quite similar, no matter what article you read or video you watch. Innovation starts with motivation. If employees come to work with no motivation to even do their work and do it well, there will be no creativity or innovation. There is a lot for me to learn concerning innovation, whether it being on the giving or receiving side.