Training Portal
Innovation & Creative Thinking
To stay ahead of the competition, organisations need to create new and better ways of doing things. Innovation has to be a significant part of the business strategy which everyone contributes to, by paying attention to what customers want and need. Coming up with lots of ideas and nurturing the best ones to create new products and services, together with improved operational processes means that the business can stay ahead of the curve and evolve. To do this, you need to experiment and get involved with people who think differently to yourself, and accept that you will need to take calculated risks. Even if you’re not naturally creative, accepting that things are never done and the business can’t stand still will create the right mindset for innovation.
Innovation & Creative Thinking - Introduction
Do those around you lack the desire to innovate?
Encourage innovation by questioning current methods, promoting reasonable risk-taking, and giving your team time and space to think creatively.
Do you lack creativity?
Identify your strengths and contribute to the innovation process through implementation, feedback, or influencing others.
Do you struggle to generate ideas?
Use brainstorming techniques to generate numerous ideas, ask probing questions, and defer judgment to find workable solutions.
Can you capitalise on opportunities?
Stay informed about industry trends, customer desires, and new regulations to identify and shape new opportunities and revenue streams.
Are you keen to test things?
Embrace experimentation, try out ideas with pilots or soft launches, and refine them through feedback and trial and error.
Are you worried about making mistakes?
Accept that mistakes are part of the innovation process, learn from them, and build checks to prevent small errors from escalating.
Are you too busy with business as usual?
Disrupt business as usual by questioning current practices and seeking better ways to deliver value and stay ahead of competitors.
Do you need structure not woolliness?
Follow a structured process for innovation, from identifying challenges to planning action, to improve your ability to generate creative ideas.
Are you worried about what people may think?
Put your ideas out there and embrace feedback, as innovation is an iterative process that benefits from diverse perspectives.
Innovation & Creative Thinking - Summary
