Many businesses limit innovative activities to particular individuals or particular departments in the organization.  However, this approach may result in missing valuable innovations that could strengthen the business.

A better approach is to involve people throughout the organization and start building a culture of innovation.  Think of your business as an “innovation team”.  People from different parts of the company and with different job functions can work together as a team for purposes of generating innovations.  Everyone has creative ideas, so everyone should be involved in the process of generating innovations.  Train everyone on the Team how to identify innovative ideas and provide examples of successful innovations (in your business or other organizations) that produced dramatic results for the company.

Schedule innovation contests and structured brainstorming sessions to generate creative ideas.  Celebrate successful innovations that increase revenue, reduce expenses, or strengthen the company’s competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Go put on your “Team Innovation” hat today and start developing an innovation culture in your business.

Many factors can affect your ability to innovate and think creatively.  Location, noise/activity level and time of day all have an influence on your innovative thinking.  A recent article suggests that the image of a conventional light bulb (an incandescent bulb) improves a viewer’s insight and creative thinking.  Click here to read the full article in Fast Company.

The light bulb is used regularly as an indicator of creative ideas and innovations.  However, this article (and the related study) suggests that surrounding yourself with innovative objects or symbols – such as the conventional light bulb – improves creativity.  This study compared the performance of participants who viewed a conventional light bulb as compared to those who viewed an overhead fluorescent light.

The results of the study are based on the presence of the light bulb, not the actual light emitted by the bulb.  The bulb itself can be disconnected from an electrical socket and still have a positive influence on a person’s thinking ability.  The “power” of the conventional light bulb appears to be its symbolic value as an indicator of innovation and creative thinking.

What other symbols come to mind when you think of Innovation?

In an earlier blog post I discussed the importance of finding your best environment for innovation and creative thinking.  Click Here to read that post about finding your “thoughtful spot”.

When looking for your perfect innovation environment, consider these factors:

1. Location – Inside or outside. In your home, at work, in your car, at school, or at a coffee shop.  In an urban location or in the country.
2. Time of Day – Morning, afternoon, or evening.  Are you most creative when you are wide awake or later in the day?  Do you tend to identify creative ideas on weekdays or weekends?
3. Noise Level or Activity Level – Do you generate ideas in quiet settings or in loud environments, such as a noisy restaurant or a busy amusement park.  I know several people that develop their best ideas in noisy places.  They believe that the noise causes them to block out all the external sounds and focus on developing creative solutions to problems or unmet needs.
4. Alone or In A Group – Many individuals best identify innovations and creative ideas in a solitary setting, while others do better in a mastermind or brainstorming group. I often combine these two settings:  identify a list of possible solutions to a problem by myself, then brainstorm with others to further refine the solutions and/or pick one to implement.

There are many other factors, but this list will get you started.  When you identify a great idea, first write it down.  Then, make a note of where you are and what you are doing (look at the list above for reminders).  As you record ideas and the environmental factors, you will soon see a pattern – common places, times, or conditions that seem to spark creative ideas for you.  When you want to develop new ideas, put yourself in that environment to stimulate your creative energy.

It doesn’t matter what environment is best for you – what’s important is discovering that environment so you can go to your own “thoughtful spot” when you want to focus on creativity and innovation.  Give your business partners and employees the freedom to find their own creative environments, rather than forcing them into an environment that is not appropriate for their creative activities.