You have a great team that performs well and does not disappoint you. They have accomplished many targets, at times before the deadline. They have won you awards and accolades across the organisation and even got you the promotion you aimed for. But it appears that they are stuck in a rut, and are refusing to innovate. Moresha Benjamin lists important tips to keep in mind to get your team to think out of the box.
Hire Dedicated Workers
“Select a team that is passionate about the work,” says Sunil Goel, director, GlobalHunt, an executive search firm. It is vital for the manager and organisation to get people on board who show keen interest and are excited about their work. When people are passionate about their work, innovation follows. The commitment to innovation is crucial and should be visible to the organisation.
Get All Hands On Deck
Innovation is about gaining different perspectives to address a challenge or an opportunity. It is good to create cross-functional teams that can work on time-bound projects. “Having people from various functions come together allows for cross-pollination of ideas and encourages individuals to think out of the box and beyond their function/roles,” says Pavan Dhamija, MD & CEO, DLF Pramerica Life Insurance. Also, identify how your team can do work differently on the same project in order to create or add value.
Make Room For Competition
“Setting ambitious yet achievable goals/ targets enhances team productivity and gives a moral boost to employees once they achieve their targets, so that they keep on coming up with better and innovative ideas,” says Sunil Singh, AVP, HR, Tulip Telecom. Promoting competitive learning amidst teams is important, as learning and unlearning is a continuous process, adds Singh.
Recognise Efforts
“A culture of recognition helps drive innovation. Team members should be encouraged to share their thoughts, and innovative suggestions/ ideas should be supported in every possible manner,” says Dhamija. “Even though all ideas and innovations may not be great, the manager should be receptive and encourage them,” says Goel.
Invest In Training
Companies can make investments to train employees to think innovatively by facilitating their participation in training programmes, giving them live case studies and projects to work upon, and so on. This is extremely satisfying for employees who are keen to contribute and make a mark, adds Dhamija. Another investment one can make is in procuring latest technology to keep your business growth steady and profitable. Technology breeds innovation. Suggest that your employees take up an existing product and work on it to make it better using technology.
Hire Dedicated Workers
“Select a team that is passionate about the work,” says Sunil Goel, director, GlobalHunt, an executive search firm. It is vital for the manager and organisation to get people on board who show keen interest and are excited about their work. When people are passionate about their work, innovation follows. The commitment to innovation is crucial and should be visible to the organisation.
Get All Hands On Deck
Innovation is about gaining different perspectives to address a challenge or an opportunity. It is good to create cross-functional teams that can work on time-bound projects. “Having people from various functions come together allows for cross-pollination of ideas and encourages individuals to think out of the box and beyond their function/roles,” says Pavan Dhamija, MD & CEO, DLF Pramerica Life Insurance. Also, identify how your team can do work differently on the same project in order to create or add value.
Make Room For Competition
“Setting ambitious yet achievable goals/ targets enhances team productivity and gives a moral boost to employees once they achieve their targets, so that they keep on coming up with better and innovative ideas,” says Sunil Singh, AVP, HR, Tulip Telecom. Promoting competitive learning amidst teams is important, as learning and unlearning is a continuous process, adds Singh.
Recognise Efforts
“A culture of recognition helps drive innovation. Team members should be encouraged to share their thoughts, and innovative suggestions/ ideas should be supported in every possible manner,” says Dhamija. “Even though all ideas and innovations may not be great, the manager should be receptive and encourage them,” says Goel.
Invest In Training
Companies can make investments to train employees to think innovatively by facilitating their participation in training programmes, giving them live case studies and projects to work upon, and so on. This is extremely satisfying for employees who are keen to contribute and make a mark, adds Dhamija. Another investment one can make is in procuring latest technology to keep your business growth steady and profitable. Technology breeds innovation. Suggest that your employees take up an existing product and work on it to make it better using technology.
(Courtesy: The Economic Times)
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