Creating habits of Innovation in the Workplace. Innovation isn’t simply bringing in new technologies or ideas, it’s also discovering new ways to do things.
Creating Habits of Innovation in the Workplace
Innovation isn’t simply bringing in new technologies or ideas — it’s also discovering new ways to do things.
To be truly innovative is to make use of one’s creative ability, so you can create something original and efficient. Forbes explains that innovation in the workplace is important since it leads to bigger opportunities and a chance to grow.
That being said, how do you go about cultivating habits of innovation in the workplace? It may sound easier said than done, but it's possible with the right mindset and willingness to keep up with new trends and technologies. Below, we outline some tips.
Introduce Automation and Utilise Technology
Effective and efficient systems allow more tasks to be completed in less time compared to if they were all assigned to humans. Ease of use isn’t the sole benefit of these systems, as they should also have powerful search, query, and reporting options.
The Qudos 3 is a management system that offers a comprehensive solution for compliance and risk management — such as planning objectives, managing documents, and conducting performance benchmarking. Robotic process automation (RPA) lets companies mimic human actions for tasks that have complex processes.
With this technology, you allow employees to pursue more meaningful tasks and put their skills to better use.
Simply put, technology helps employees do their assignments faster, leaving them with more time, energy, and even resources to develop new ideas.
Streamline Processes and Eliminate Redundancies
Improving processes means identifying and improving existing workflows to optimize performance. CIO suggests some techniques for this — and while all the methodologies have the common goal of bettering processes in the workplace, the focus of these differ depending on the need. Kaizen is a simple method where errors are not punished but studied to ensure they don't happen again.
Meanwhile, process mapping is a workflow visualisation through flow diagrams, which help companies map out a plan for improvement.
Another example is cause and effect analysis — a simple technique that uses a diagram to identify problems and discover other roadblocks that hinder productivity.
Create Environments That Are Conducive to Productivity
There may be slow days when productivity just can't be forced, but being able to create an environment that's conducive for work is something we can always control.
As highlighted in an article on Lead Change, focusing on ergonomics is one thing you can do to help achieve this, as employees who use ergonomic equipment work faster and make fewer mistakes. Consider going beyond the ergonomic chair and invest in under-desk bikes.
Employees may take breaks to walk around, however Pain-Free Working highlights that mini exercise bikes can help keep the blood in our lower body flowing even while we’re busy typing away on a keyboard at work. This can positively influence cognitive performance and improve productivity. All in all, it's an essential foundation for innovation.
Be Open to Process Changes and Encourage New Ideas
Being accepting and receptive are two different things. To accept a new idea is to approve of it, while being receptive to a new idea means you are willing to let the person explain it before approving or disapproving of it.
Medium says that open-mindedness will result in better strategies and more efficient plans, because you listen to multiple viewpoints. It might take some getting used to. But to start, don’t react with anger or scepticism whenever people have different opinions from you. Leave your comfort zone and ask questions to understand where they are coming from. Ideas aren’t simply black or white. The beauty of diverse perspectives is that you can take the best from everyone in order to come up with something that works for the entire team.
There will be a lot of effort, and even money, involved in creating a workplace that welcomes innovation. However, an innovative workplace will be rewarding to both employees and employers.
