How can you manage innovative teams?

1 Define the vision and goals

One of the first steps to managing innovative teams is to define the vision and goals of the project or initiative. This helps to align the team on the purpose, scope, and expected outcomes of their work. It also provides a clear direction and a common language for communication and collaboration. You should also involve the team in setting realistic and measurable goals that reflect their input and feedback. This way, you can empower them to take ownership and accountability for their results.

2 Encourage experimentation and learning

Another key aspect of managing innovative teams is to encourage experimentation and learning. This means creating a safe and supportive environment where team members can test new ideas, learn from failures, and iterate on solutions. You should also provide them with the resources, tools, and feedback they need to experiment and learn effectively. For example, you can use prototyping, brainstorming, and design thinking methods to help them generate and validate ideas. You can also use agile, scrum, or lean methodologies to help them deliver value quickly and adapt to changing needs.

3 Promote diversity and inclusion

A third tip to manage innovative teams is to promote diversity and inclusion. This means recognizing and valuing the different perspectives, backgrounds, skills, and experiences of your team members. It also means ensuring that everyone has a voice and a role in the team, and that they feel respected and appreciated for their contributions. You can promote diversity and inclusion by hiring and retaining diverse talent, creating a culture of trust and openness, and facilitating constructive dialogue and feedback among team members.

4 Reward and recognize innovation

A fourth way to manage innovative teams is to reward and recognize innovation. This means acknowledging and celebrating the efforts, achievements, and impacts of your team members. It also means providing them with incentives and opportunities to grow and develop their innovation skills and capabilities. You can reward and recognize innovation by giving positive feedback, recognition, and praise, offering monetary or non-monetary rewards, and providing career advancement or learning opportunities.

5 Balance autonomy and collaboration

A fifth suggestion to manage innovative teams is to balance autonomy and collaboration. This means giving your team members the freedom and flexibility to work on their own or in small groups, while also ensuring that they coordinate and cooperate with each other and with other stakeholders. It also means setting clear expectations, roles, and responsibilities, while also providing guidance, support, and coaching. You can balance autonomy and collaboration by using tools and platforms that facilitate communication, information sharing, and project management, and by holding regular meetings, check-ins, and reviews.

6 Foster a growth mindset

A final tip to manage innovative teams is to foster a growth mindset. This means encouraging your team members to embrace challenges, learn from feedback, and seek improvement. It also means modeling and reinforcing a positive attitude, a curiosity, and a willingness to change. You can foster a growth mindset by providing constructive feedback, coaching, and mentoring, by sharing best practices and lessons learned, and by challenging and inspiring your team members to achieve their potential.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?