To address communication breakdowns and foster innovation, establish a culture of openness and trust. Create structured forums, like brainstorming sessions or regular team huddles, where everyone feels safe sharing ideas. Encourage active listening and set ground rules for constructive feedback. Use collaborative tools to ensure transparency and keep everyone aligned. Recognize and reward contributions to motivate participation. Break down silos by fostering cross-functional interactions and pairing team members with diverse perspectives. Lead by example, demonstrating curiosity and openness to new ideas. By improving communication and valuing creativity, you build a foundation for innovation to thrive.

i would revisit the agreements we’ve established as a team, and be honest about whether or not they leave space for innovation and risk-taking. for instance, a “high-performing” culture may inherently discourage innovation because change naturally requires risk (and failure!!). making sure our shared agreements about doing the work allow for room and space to take chances. from there, it’s about reminding the team that we are fixed in our mission, but flexible in the methods…presenting an opportunity to reconfigure how we do business in ways that support the central mission. this allows for us to shift HOW we do the work in favor of preserving our WHY we do it.

Firstly, establich clarity re: strategic focus (vision, mission, values) and clearly communicate the strategic importance of innovation to team. Secondly, create/reinforce a strong climate of innovation at the team level, where ideas usually originate and are subsequently adopted by the organization. Ensure that support for innovation is enacted and implementation is characterized by commitment and strong task orientation. Thirdly, define a 'trigger question' and use this question in all-inclusive, highly participative idea generation mechanisms to spark creativity. Fourthly, filter ideas using objective/agreed criteria and identify/reward 'best ideas'; involve 'idea owners' in implementation. Lastly, act as an 'Ambassador' of Innovation.