Innovation Trick-or-Treat

Picture a company as a neighborhood on Halloween night. Just like kids in costumes going door-to-door in search of the best candy, employee innovators are eager to show their creativity in exchange for the sweet taste of success. Innovation leaders are on the other side of the door, ready to hand out rewards ... or not.?

But corporate innovation isn’t as simple as a knock on the door with a cheerful “trick or treat.” Getting a leader to open their office door requires more than a Halloween costume. Sometimes, it means scheduling with them weeks in advance, only to get a short window for sharing. For leaders, it’s a chance to be what Liz Wiseman calls a “multiplier” — someone who amplifies the intelligence and ideas of those around them, creating a culture where employees feel encouraged to knock again.?

Diminishers vs. Multipliers: Tricks or Treats??

According to Liz , “diminishers” drain energy and ideas from their teams, turning every idea interaction into a “trick.” Ever heard, “Great idea, keep working on it,” with little follow-through? That’s the trick that leaves employees empty-handed. In contrast, “multipliers” are the leaders who answer the door with a full bowl of treats. They listen, support, and let ideas take root.?

Imagine if, like on Halloween, leaders encouraged employees to knock on the door anytime — no tricks, just treats. Employees would bring their ideas eagerly, creating a neighborhood of innovation, buzzing with possibility.?

The Candy Bowl of Ideas?

Employee innovators should think like the kid with the bottomless candy stash. Don’t get attached to one idea; gather a mix. Grab the Snickers (my favorite), but also add some Twizzlers and M&M’s — fill your “idea bag” with a variety of concepts. Innovation thrives on diversity, and sometimes the best ideas are unexpected — like finding a Reese’s in a bowl of Milky Ways. Embrace Forrest Gump’s wisdom — “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get” — to come up with a portfolio of options.?

The Now and Laters: Ideas That Need Time?

Not all ideas are conceived at the right time. Their brilliance emerges later. Some innovations start as “Now and Laters” — concepts that at first seem small but later prove they can transform an entire industry. One example is the Ikea flat pack box. The flat-pack revolution began with a simple moment in the 1950s when an employee removed a table's legs to fit it into a customer's car, an ingenious yet modest solution that initially seemed like a one-off fix. Over a decade, this seemingly minor innovation would fully develop into IKEA's signature flat-pack business model. Once implemented across their product line, it transformed not just the company but the entire furniture industry by making furniture cheaper to ship and easier to transport.?

Leaders can cultivate an environment for these “slow burn” ideas by staying open, even when they’re not immediately sure of the payoff. By encouraging employees to collect “Now and Laters” alongside their immediate hits, leaders might be nurturing the next big breakthrough without even knowing it. ?

Halloween for Innovators??

Take a few Halloween principles to heart when driving innovation:?

• Get out of the “house”: Get people away from the desk, moving, interacting, and sharing freely to create that lively exchange of ideas.?

• Leaders, open your doors: When employees knock, answer! Check out their “costumes” — it shows your openness and willingness to entertain new thoughts.?

• Employees, build a diverse candy stash: Don’t pre-select only the “best” ideas; fill your bag with variety. Sort them out later, giving each a fair shot.?

• Don’t judge the “Now and Laters” too soon: An idea that doesn’t fit today’s need might be tomorrow’s game-changer.?

Happy trick-or-treating for innovation, and may your candy bowls be full of sweet, groundbreaking ideas!?