Here is the next addition of tips from the Facebook page:
Lean Tip
#3616 - Let Information Flow Freely
Transparency within a company is necessary for building a culture of innovation. In addition to knowing the company's top priorities, transparency also breeds trust. Trust, in turn, breeds both engagement and personal connections. Taken together, they encourage creative thinking and the confidence to share those ideas and work with teammates to bring them to life.
One of the ways to promote transparency and let information flow freely is to use collaboration tools that make information accessible and visible to everyone in the company. Doing so will create a culture of open communication where employees can share ideas, feedback, and concerns without fear of retribution. You'll also encourage employees to engage with each other and with the company by making information and resources easily accessible and available.
Lean Tip #3617 – Empower Teams to Make Decisions.
Decision paralysis happens when we have too many options and are unable to decide on a single solution. This can quickly derail many projects or teams. But something much worse is not empowering a team or individual to make a decision in the first place.
Layering on multiple levels or approvals in order to make a decision can kill innovation faster than any type of decision paralysis can. When teams or individuals don’t feel supported or trusted in making decisions, they can quickly lose confidence in their ability or skills to innovate.
Empowering teams through decision making is a great way to increase ideas within your organization. When workers feel confident, they are more likely to pursue new, innovative projects. Eliminating some of the “red tape” around decision-making can help foster a culture of innovation and make way for more ideas to come to the forefront.
Lean Tip #3618 – Break Patterns and Stop Thinking, “That’s How it’s Always Been.”
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome. For many organizations, this definition of insanity plays out in a dangerous way.
We all get stuck in common patterns of behavior or settle into ways of doing things. It’s another frustrating theme of being human. But this behavior can have unsettling consequences. When times change and issues arise, we can find ourselves stuck by providing a familiar excuse: “That’s how it’s always been.”
The world is rapidly changing around us, and what worked last week may not work this week anymore. Innovation can only truly blossom when we’re able to step back from our norms, patterns, and comforts to see the larger picture at play. It can be easy to fall back on old solutions, but that can hinder you from making progress toward seeking out truly innovative solutions.
Lean Tip #3619 – Allocating Time for Creative Exploration
You can set aside dedicated time within employees’ work schedules for them to explore and experiment with creative and innovative ideas. This approach recognizes that innovation often requires time for reflection, brainstorming, and experimentation. Organizing contests is one of the best ways to encourage employees to not only brainstorm but execute their ideas. As a manager, you get to see the potential an idea may have, and employees also feel motivated as they have dedicated time to work on something other than their regular work.
Lean Tip #3620 – Encouraging Networking and Exposure to New Ideas
Create opportunities and a supportive environment for employees to connect with peers, industry experts, and diverse perspectives outside of their immediate teams or departments. You can set up mentorship and coaching programs and let the employees reach out to the mentors to share ideas, take feedback, or learn to navigate through challenges. Moreover, you can involve employees in industry events, conferences, or collaborations with external organizations to expose them to new trends, technologies, and innovative practices. Such exposure can stimulate innovative thinking and inspire employees to bring fresh ideas and approaches to their work.
Lean Tip #3621 – Create the Right Motivation and Culture
Start by defining and communicating your business mission, values, and strategic direction. If your employees know where you’re headed, they’re more likely to contribute ideas of value to your business. Don’t use money as the incentive; place emphasis instead on that employee’s potential to shape the future direction of the business and make a meaningful contribution.
Listen, acknowledge, and give feedback to employees who submit ideas. As a member of management, beware of jumping the gun and adding suggestions or changes to ideas as soon as they’re submitted; this can give the impression to employees that their ideas don’t have merit or aren’t good enough, reducing the likelihood of them repeating the behavior.
Remember that an idea is only the first step, and it will be imperfect and require fine-tuning. Embrace that concept and adopt the philosophy of ‘there’s no such thing as a bad idea’. Even if you must say no to an employee, their suggestion may lead to other developments in the future. It’s vital to establish a culture in which employees can feel confident submitting ideas, in the knowledge that they will be listened to and not judged.
Lean Tip #3622 – Ask for Ideas from Employees and Establish a Process
Do your employees even know that you want them to step up?
Make it clear that your organization is seeking input from its employees and communicate it widely. Direct innovation to ensure you get the most from your employees. Rather than simply saying “We want your ideas”, identify and define the areas you need support with. Give your employees a structure and process to follow, or consider having a member of the management team ‘get the ball rolling’ with the first suggestion.
For example, establish an ‘ideas’ forum or use a dedicated idea system. Start a discussion requesting ideas for a specific process, product, or objective and outline how the process will follow through. Assigning a timescale can prove beneficial; it creates a sense of ‘urgency’ that will prompt or trigger suggestions, rather than an open-ended process. This sets out expectations and offers employees a starting point and structure for putting forward ideas.
Lean Tip #3623 – Make Time for Innovation
Google famously adopted a ‘20% time’ policy for innovation, allowing its engineers to dedicate 20% of their time to personal projects. The initiative generated some of Google’s most successful products. Although the concept has since been replaced with a more focused approach, it highlights the need to dedicate time to ideation.
While not all organizations can afford the productivity losses of a ’20 time’ approach, ensure that alongside ad-hoc ideation along your communication channels, there is time dedicated to purposeful brainstorming and idea creation.
This may be a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual event, depending on your business needs; setting up a regularly occurring event for an open forum, group discussion, or even just as a reminder to employees to submit ideas can help get those creative ideas going.
Lean Tip #3624 – Think Outside the Box
Ideation is, by definition, a creative process. So why not get creative with how you stimulate ideas?
Why not assign an ‘ideas wall’ and supply a bank of Post-its? Or have a ‘think like the customer’ session, using role-play or even actual customers? Keep it fun: if your employees feel comfortable, they’re more likely to contribute.
Remember that not all employees create or innovate in the same way; offering several channels or options can help get the maximum number of ideas from the maximum number of people.
Lean Tip #3625 – Stop and Listen
You’ve made the decision to innovate. You’ve removed barriers, you’ve asked for ideas, you’ve given them the tools. Now, you need to listen.
Employees are continuously talking, even outside of structured innovation campaigns. The act of creating a true culture of innovation calls for continuous listening – both to active ideation channels and to ‘passive’ conversations, which naturally occur in your business.
Make sure you listen from the bottom up; some of the most powerful insights can be found on the frontlines of your business, from those actively delivering your product or service. Ideation isn’t an executive-level task: when it comes to innovation, every employee counts.
Lean Tip #3626 – Be Flexible and Adaptable in Your Approach.
The world is constantly changing, so you need to be flexible and adaptable in your approach. This means being open to new ideas and ways of doing things. It also means being willing to change course if needed.
Flexibility and adaptability are key traits of successful organizations. They allow for quick adjustments in response to changing circumstances, ensuring that the organization can continue to operate effectively even in uncertain times.
One way to foster flexibility and adaptability is by encouraging a culture of experimentation within your organization. This involves trying out new ideas and approaches and learning from both successes and failures. By doing so, you can identify new opportunities and stay ahead of the curve.
In addition to being flexible in your approach, it is important to regularly review and evaluate your strategies and plans. This allows for adjustments to be made as needed, ensuring that you are always working towards your goals in the most effective way possible.
Lean Tip #3627 – Make Sure You Have a Clear Vision and Strategy.
A clear vision and strategy can help you to stay focused in a rapidly changing world. It can also help you to make decisions quickly and efficiently. When your organization knows where it is going, it is less likely to be derailed by change. This is because your strategy acts as a roadmap, guiding you towards your goals even when circumstances change.
To ensure that your vision and strategy remain relevant and effective in the face of change, it is important to regularly review and update them. This may involve consulting with stakeholders, conducting market research, and staying informed about industry trends. By doing so, you can ensure that your organization is always moving in the right direction. Remember, a clear vision and strategy are not static documents, they should be constantly evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of your organization.
Lean Tip #3628 – Cultivate a Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. It’s about embracing challenges, viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth, and persisting in the face of obstacles. Developing a growth mindset is essential for adaptability because it allows us to see change as an opportunity for learning and personal development.
To cultivate a growth mindset, start by embracing challenges and setbacks. Instead of shying away from difficult tasks, embrace them as opportunities for growth. Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and take on new experiences. Remember, failure is not a reflection of your abilities but an opportunity to learn and improve.
Lean Tip #3629 – Build Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand our own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. It’s about knowing who we are and how we respond to different situations. Building self-awareness is crucial for adaptability because it allows us to identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments.
To build self-awareness, take time for self-reflection. Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and identify areas where you can improve. Seek feedback from others and be open to constructive criticism. The more you understand yourself, the better equipped you will be to adapt to different situations.
Lean Tip #3630 – Enhance Problem-Solving Skills
Problem-solving skills are essential for adaptability. When faced with challenges or obstacles, being able to approach them with a solution-oriented mindset is crucial. It involves being proactive, seeking alternative strategies, and being willing to take risks.
To
enhance your problem-solving skills, start by approaching problems with a
solution-oriented mindset. Instead of dwelling on the problem, focus on finding
solutions. Break down the problem into smaller, manageable steps, and
brainstorm alternative strategies. Be willing to take risks and try new
approaches. The more you practice problem-solving, the more adaptable you will
become.
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