Earlier this week, I hosted a masterclass on fostering innovation in teams – specifically, how to create the conditions for innovation to occur more frequently. While Australia ranks 24th out of 132 countries in innovation, we’re not exactly leading the charge. There are plenty of barriers, as highlighted in The Global Innovation Index and ABS data (2023) – but instead of focusing on what’s holding us back, I prefer to ask:💡 What can we deliberately do about it?
💭 Why Some Teams Struggle to Innovate
A lack of innovation is often blamed on:
🚧 Limited time and budget
🚧 Entrenched beliefs about what can or can’t be done
🚧 Low stakeholder interest
While these external barriers may exist, the most effective leaders don’t dwell on them, instead focussing on what they can control.
🤔 What Happens When a Team Lacks Innovation?
Teams that struggle with innovation often experience:
❌ Stagnation & Lack of Growth – The team resists change and struggles to evolve.
❌ Low Engagement & Motivation – Team members feel uninspired and disengaged.
❌ Inefficiency & Outdated Processes – Ineffective methods persist without improvement.
❌ Missed Opportunities – The team fails to capitalize on new trends and technologies.
❌ High Resistance to Change – Fear of failure leads to reluctance in trying new ideas.
❌ Decreased Problem-Solving Ability – Challenges remain unresolved due to a lack of creativity.
Sounds like a team you’d want to run away from, right?
If any of this resonates, don’t worry – innovation isn’t about luck or limitless resources. It’s about deliberately shaping the right conditions.
🚀 4 Key Factors to Spark Innovation
In this month’s masterclass, I shared four essential elements that drive innovation:
🔍 Curiosity – Spark Exploration and New Ideas
Encourage continuous learning by making space for questions, experimentation, and diverse perspectives. Instead of shutting down unconventional ideas, ask “What if?” and “How might we?” Recognizing curiosity-driven efforts – even those that don’t immediately succeed – builds a culture of innovation.
🛡️ Safety – Build an Environment Where Ideas Thrive
Psychological safety is the foundation of innovation. Team members need to feel secure in voicing ideas without fear of criticism or failure. Leaders can foster this by actively listening, encouraging constructive debate, and framing failures as learning opportunities.
🎯 Impact – Connect Innovation to Real-World Outcomes
For innovation to feel meaningful, teams must see how their ideas create tangible results. Whether it’s improving customer experience, streamlining processes, or gaining a competitive edge, highlighting small wins fuels motivation for bigger changes.
🌟 Purpose – Align Innovation with a Bigger Mission
People innovate more when they understand why it matters. Connect innovation efforts to the organisation’s broader mission, ensuring they drive meaningful progress – not just change for change’s sake. A purpose-driven team innovates with intention.
💸 You Don’t Need Amazon or Tesla’s Budget to Innovate
Innovation isn’t about massive budgets – it’s about deliberate action. By focusing on curiosity, safety, impact, and purpose, you can cultivate a team that embraces new ideas and thrives on continuous improvement.
What’s one small step you can take this week to build a more innovative team?
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