How To: Balance Innovation, Operations, and Strategy

Hi friends,

A recent executive team retreat client said something that really stuck with me:?

“We spend all our time in meetings deciding on operational stuff, and we don’t really have time to innovate.”

He confessed, “I’m pretty sure many organizations—except the very largest, best-funded organizations—are the same.”

I reflected on this a lot as I was planning out their meetup.?

The frustration in his voice wasn’t purely about meetings or to-dos; it was about a deeper tension I see in many organizations: The constant juggling between day-to-day management demands and the need to innovate for the future.

This conversation inspired me to write today’s newsletter.

As leaders, we all know how crucial innovation is to the long-term success of any organization.

But how do you carve out space for creativity when your team is already stretched thin by daily tasks and (if you’re lucky) strategy??

How do the most successful organizations manage to balance:

• Today’s urgent demands, and?
• The innovations that will drive tomorrow?

It’s definitely possible—look at the giant disruptors like Open AI, Stripe, and Canva.?

But it requires intentional effort and, sometimes, a shift in perspective.

Operational Needs vs. Innovation

Innovation doesn’t need to be a disruptive, time-consuming initiative. It doesn’t have to interrupt your day-to-day operations OR your strategic goals.?

In fact, I believe innovation, operational excellence, and powerful strategy are three legs of the same tripod—they can, and should, happen simultaneously.

Innovation, operational excellence, and powerful strategy are three legs of the same tripod—they can, and should, happen simultaneously.

So, this is exactly what I told the overwhelmed executive: “You don’t need to choose between operations and innovation. But you do need to actively balance both priorities. That means making conscious, strategic decisions.”

The first thing to note is that innovation isn’t always about sweeping changes. Often, it arises from small, incremental improvements to processes, communication, and workflows. These “innovation opportunities” are embedded in your team’s everyday tasks—you just need to learn to recognize and leverage them.

But you can’t innovate when you’re drowning in meetings. And you can’t think creatively when your calendar is overloaded with daily tasks.

So, how do you carve out time for innovation while navigating and managing your organization??

Here are some approaches that have emerged from my executive team workshops over the years:

1. Challenge Outdated Concepts

Every organization has “legacy” routines and inefficiencies that eat into valuable time, especially in larger companies and teams . I’ve even read that up to 26% of a co-worker’s day can be wasted on these avoidable items.?

Like meetings that could otherwise be emails.

Or tiresome approval processes.

Or outdated technological tasks.

They all chip away at time that could be channeled into innovation.

Takeaway: Prioritize streamlining internal processes. Freeing up space doesn’t mean sacrificing operational excellence; it enhances it.

Action Item: Organize a “ship burning” session for the next time you meet up, where teammates can identify (and even vote on) processes that no longer serve them. As soon as you start clearing redundant tasks, you unlock creative space for new solutions and ideas.

2. Out With The Old, First

Related to the previous point, introducing new tools, strategies, or projects means dropping others that haven’t worked out. This is prototyping and iteration in a nutshell—build, measure, and LEARN.

“Fail small and often,” is one of my favorite sayings, but it needs to be managed properly. Running too many projects at once (new and old) can overwhelm teammates and leave too little time for fully exploring each initiative’s potential.

Takeaway: DO start Projects Y and Z if they hold promise, but NOT before you stop A and B if they haven’t paid off.??

Action Item: Before trying something new, ask yourself: “What can we stop” to give this the attention it deserves???

3. Prioritize Innovation

It’s straightforward: Innovation simply won’t happen if it’s not among your top priorities.?

I’ve coached executive teams that decided to intentionally carve out time for regular innovation sprints or brainstorming sessions, and that has been TRANSFORMATIONAL for them.?

But, I understand this might feel like a big leap if you’re new to the concept.

A useful first, baby step is to invite new ways of thinking into your planning sessions, rather than viewing “innovation” as a separate agenda item. I also recommend utilizing strategies and frameworks for innovation during your annual or quarterly strategy sessions.?

Takeaway: Use creative, innovative thinking when you plan out your operations and strategy, rather than treating them as separate entities.

Action Item: Get familiar with creative strategizing exercises and how they contrast and complement one another. In my book, The Power of Professional Closeness, I’ve outlined some pairs like Force Field Analysis and Random Object Stimuli. DM me and I’ll happily share them with you!

Over to You

At the end of the day, finding a balance between the operational, strategic, and innovation takes careful planning and thoughtful leadership.?

As I told my client, the more you can act on opportunities for creativity everyday, the more you break down the false divide between “work” and “innovation.”

A few reflections for you:

• What processes are creating “process debt” in your organization, and how can you start clearing them away?
• How can you subtract from your team’s workload to make room for new initiatives?
• What strategies can you use to prioritize innovation alongside operational demands?
• How can you integrate innovation into your strategizing sessions?
• What frameworks or exercises will you implement?

And most importantly…

• WHEN will you start?

Gaining a fresh perspective often starts with stepping away from the daily grind. So reconsider your next big meetup: see it as a rare opportunity to balance strategic thinking with creativity.?

After all, innovation, strategy, and operations aren’t separate—they’re interconnected, and with the right focus, they can elevate each other.

What is the biggest block to innovation in your company? Tell me in a DM or comment!

—Govert