How do you create and sustain a learning environment that supports innovation?

Remember the hindrance ego can bring in a corporate setting? Your vision and goals should be devoid of it. A clear, ego-free vision ensures open communication and collaboration, promoting innovation from the get-go. Encourage a feedback culture where everyone feels involved in shaping the organization's direction.

> curiosity model & growth mindset behaviours > establish spaces purpose-built for collaboration, brainstorming & experiential learning > develop mechanisms like failure contests to celebrate intelligent experimentation & normalize it > structure innovation challenges to stretch teams with tight timeframes, ambitious goals, & pressure > recognize continuous learners publicly for pursuing development opportunities & achieving learning milestones > survey regularly on indicators of a learning culture - psychological safety, knowledge sharing, growth mindset

By delegating authority and responsibilities, we as leaders bring growth opportunities to our team, challenging their abilities and knowledge. This will encourage them to learn new ways of doing things.

Empowerment is not just about providing resources; it's about ensuring every team member feels their voice matters. Recognize and celebrate even the smallest innovative efforts. The more valued employees feel, the more likely they are to contribute creatively.

Drawing from the barriers ego creates, a non-judgmental environment is crucial. A workspace where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, and employees aren’t penalized for them, will encourage risk-taking—a key factor for innovative solutions.

In my experience, creating a transparent and well-defined career path within the organization, will encourage your team to set a continuous learning and improvement mindset to achieve their professional development.

Link innovation directly to learning. Provide platforms or sessions where employees can share insights from recent workshops or courses. Continuous improvement can be fostered by celebrating the journey of learning, not just the outcomes.

While monitoring, focus not just on the end results but also on the innovative processes. Acknowledge and reward innovative methodologies, even if they don’t always yield immediate results. This shows the team that the journey of innovation is as important as the destination.

Avoid being a leader trapped by ego. Showcase your personal learning journey, discuss your failures openly, and highlight what you learned. When leaders are vulnerable and open about their learning curve, it instills a strong learning culture throughout.

I used to schedule meetings with my team to learn new things. It was called “the growth spot,” and we spent 45-60 minutes weekly talking about leadership-related topics. We discussed industry-related news and analyzed the impact on our business; we also read interesting articles and shared insights. As additional support for their learning and development mindset, at the end of each quarter, I gave books away for those who liked to read and shared videos and podcasts for those who rather listen instead.

Innovation is a collective journey. Encourage cross-departmental brainstorming sessions. Sometimes, the most groundbreaking solutions come from areas least expected. Also, consider hosting regular retrospectives to reflect on what worked and what didn't, fostering an environment of continuous growth and learning.