Measure the Value of the Journey, not just the results!

One of the main things that holds back innovation is a lack of trust.

Innovation is,?by?its?very nature,?change,?and here lies the problem.?We get comfortable with what we know, even if we know it’s not the best way. We build?businesses around?structure and routine. Resulting?in chains of command, silos and autocratic communications. Sound familiar??To be innovative we must?question, challenge, and create the new. The?key elements of innovation are curiosity and creativity, but?we have bred this out?of ourselves?to?make?sure?the workforce is organised and compliant.

For businesses to thrive we need to unlock our full?human potential and re-build our?innate?skills of?curiosity?and creativity. This takes Trust. Trust in?ourselves, our teams,?and in?our?organisations.?

1. INNOVATION STARTS WITH CURIOSITY…?

To be curious we must challenge and question. But people who question and challenge are?often?seen as?troublemakers, negative and?hard work. So, people avoid involving them because they slow things down.?But questioning, when done constructively, with a possibilities?mindset, is the most powerful exploration force you can have. We must trust that our questioning will be met?with support and encouragement. If there is any fear of consequence then there will be no questioning and curiosity stops.

2. CREATIVITY NEEDS NURTURING…?

Einstein?said,?“If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.”?The trouble with crazy?or absurd?ideas is that people laugh at them, and judge, not just the?idea?but the?originator as well. We need to trust that our crazy ideas will be taken as exploration, not perfection, and not met with judgment. As soon as ideas are judged, trust is?lost,?and we stop providing them.

3. IDEAS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED…?

Ideas are new, if we had all the?answers,?we would have done it already. For ideas to be valuable we need to develop them. This requires time and resources. I always advocate that you test small and iterate fast. But even this does require a small amount of time and resources which comes with the burden of expectation.??

Businesses?typically?expect returns on every action. A?pure dollar calculation at every step will, at best, give you incremental low-level ideas or improvements and at worst give you nothing because the return on?the investment is not clear. This misses?the fact that?there is value in the process itself, not just the results. If the idea comes to full fruition, then great. If the idea is explored, but ultimately goes no further, then we gain insight,?data, and?more?ideas, furthering?our curiosity and creativity,?and loading it back into the?business's?culture bank which will produce far greater returns than the original idea?itself.?

To?build?a culture of innovation;?invite challenge and question. Celebrate the ‘Crazy ideas’ and?measure?the value of the journey not just the results. This builds trust, creativity, and curiosity and increases innovation.