Innovation: Thinking outside the box and throwing it away.

In a world where uncertainty prevails and challenges pour down like raindrops, navigating the storm requires more than just courage and empathy. It calls for a dance with innovation, a graceful step into the unknown, where every move is towards progress. At RAiN with bravery as our armour and empathy as our guiding light, we are excited to present the third pillar of our ethos: innovation.?

Innovation is more than just a phrase; it is the lifeblood of progress, driving us to new heights. More than just making discoveries or developing goods; innovation is about breaking free from the limitations of the status quo and daring to think differently. It's not just a slogan or a selling point; it’s our principle, embedded into the fabric of our culture. As we consider the relevance of innovation as a core value, here’s why it is more important than ever.?

Having innovation as a core value, we stay relevant in the industry in terms of the tech we use, how we adjust to changes in the industry and identifying opportunities. It also fosters a creative, problem-solving workforce.

By using the diversity in your teams to solve problems you will inherently end up with many different solutions to a single problem, leading to diversified mindsets through the sharing of ideas. This contributes greatly to innovation, and more importantly, you're left with greater chances of turning ideas into real solutions.??

Employees are rarely seen as idea generators but consider that your employees are the people working with your system daily. They know every crack in the sidewalk and have seen the loose screws that management often misses. Your employees are the ones working with clients and have first-hand experience in what the client wants and the business needs, thus the innovation that sparks will likely be more relevant to your business than ideas from an external consultant.?

As an added benefit, employees who are pushed to come up with innovative ideas are more likely to speak up with ease, take bold action and observe business practices critically to identify areas of improvement, ultimately becoming business leaders. No individual can be aware of all risks at a given time but with multiple perspectives, a risk can be mitigated before it dawns. In turn, it encourages cooperation and coordination which adds to the collaborative culture of the company.?

There is no formula for innovation, rather, it is a simmering pot of creation waiting to be stirred. Innovation is not a straight line, it is a winding path with unforeseen twists and turns. But here's a secret: every detour, mistake, and incorrect turn is simply another ingredient in the recipe for success. Innovation can be sparked by getting involved in your community and relating issues identified around you with problems in the business. Innovation can also be found by fully immersing yourself in your industry, from listening to industry-related podcasts to reading blogs by industry leaders or case studies about past problems that other companies have had to deal with.??

How to encourage Innovation:

1. Safe SpaceTo get your employees involved in your drive to innovation, it’s important to make it clear to them that their attributions matter. All humans have an innate need to have purpose and by creating a safe space at work where ideas are welcome and encouraged without judgement, employees may share their ideas more easily.??
2. Create a Sense of DependenceIt’s also important to create a sense of urgency amongst your employees, by encouraging them to identify and raise concerns about issues. The traditional belief that employees need the business more than the business needs them, creates a fear of openly recognising problems in the business for concern of losing their job.
3. CampaignsYou could encourage innovation by having an “ideas drive” in which each employee must identify 1 problem they deal with daily; this will give you a general idea of which areas need improvement. Or you could go old-school and place a suggestion box in an area of the office that everyone uses. Alternatively, a monthly “ideas meeting” could get the ball rolling, however, it might be a good idea to confirm with a few employees before the meeting to start the conversation.??

In conclusion, your ability to see challenges as opportunities, obstacles as stepping stones, and failures as lessons in disguise are bound to spark creativity and innovation in your mind. If you can share this spark with your employees, you'll never be without ideas and innovations.

At RAiN, we believe that innovation is about how we tackle issues, work with others, and respond to change. As we traverse the innovation landscape let us keep in mind that in a world of numbers, what matters most, is the creative spark that drives advancement and pushes us to new heights. At RAiN, innovation is more than a value, it is our commitment to shaping a future with boundless possibilities and visions.??