How Innovation Starts With Each of Us

Earlier this year I shared my thoughts on our AbbVie Principles – a foundational description of what we believe in, stand for and represent as a company. I’ve been especially moved lately by how our AbbVie employees are embracing one Principle in particular: Driving Innovation. Innovation helps shape our identity as a company. We would not exist if innovation wasn’t at the heart of what we do – it’s a differentiating part of each one of us.

Innovation Through Unexpected Partnerships

Sometimes, an innovative new idea doesn’t come from a scientist in a lab – it comes from the next generation of visionary thinkers. That’s why AbbVie established the AbbVie Innovation Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The center employs 95 students whose focus areas range from coding and information technology to communications and law. The center provides opportunities for students to get hands-on experience solving real world business problems.

Each year AbbVie R&D leaders team up with students for two days to solve a business specific challenge – during a recent session, they brainstormed new ways IT and health teams can collaborate to help patients. What I love about this partnership is that it helps drive innovation at AbbVie, but also reinforces our commitment to career development. These students bring fresh perspectives to our business challenges, and we help make those ideas a reality – while providing the experiences they need to launch their careers.

Innovation Regardless of Role

While “Driving Innovation” is essential for the R&D leaders who contribute to the AbbVie Innovation Center, it is relevant far beyond that context – it’s about striving for something more, something better across every element of our company.

Regardless of function, role or title, at AbbVie we’re always asking, what does great look like? Is there a creative new process or technology we could implement? We all have an opportunity to innovate by identifying opportunities to create better outcomes – and that’s something we strive for each day in HR.

For example, thanks to data from our employee survey, our HR team saw an opportunity to improve how we manage performance at AbbVie. We discovered people managers needed more support when it came to discussing performance with their direct reports – especially if it involved delivering tough messages. We launched People Leader Quick Guides to help our managers approach and engage in meaningful conversations with their direct reports.

People Leader Quick Guides are a series of short videos scripted and produced by our Talent Development team using actual AbbVie managers and employees. They depict various scenarios — informal and formal feedback, development planning, coaching and career discussions — based on real situations shared by AbbVie managers. Sent regularly throughout our performance management cycle, the guides provide busy managers with timely information to help them prepare for each scenario and model “what great looks like.”

We have received extremely positive feedback from leaders who have used the guides – 86% of those surveyed said they intend to change their behaviors in future conversations. These innovative resources have garnered external recognition as well: AbbVie earned the 2019 Optimas Silver Award for Training for these efforts. By empowering leaders to guide and advance their employees’ development, our people are better equipped to do their jobs – and ultimately, impact our patients.

If we all recognize that innovation starts with us, we can accomplish anything.  

This post is approved by AbbVie.