The key to success for many new and established businesses is innovation.The definition of innovation varies from person to person.A progressive process, where people build upon each other's ideas, improves them instead of changing them, is what innovation is all about.Learning and understanding how to innovate is difficult.To inspire your team and yourself to do the same, open your mind to new ideas and figure out ways to build on them.
Step 1: A meaningful mission is developed.
A new sense of meaning will be introduced to your work by a mission statement that matters.It will be easier to invest more time and energy into your work if you feel that it has value.When you develop new ideas, mission statements are helpful.When you're staring at a blank sheet of paper, it can be hard to come up with an innovative idea.It's easier to come up with ideas when you put something on the paper in a mission statement.When you come up with a new idea, ask yourself if there are any aspects that haven't been addressed in your mission statement.You should start working from whichever part of your mission is weakest.
Step 2: Don't ask everything.
Ask questions about what you already know.You may be able to approach something in a different way.Try to remember what you do each day.Do you know who else does it and how they do it differently?If you assume that your task is the best, you're taking a big risk.Ask the person who started the method why they pursued it.Consider if other alternatives were considered.If other assumptions or constraints limited that source's actions, ask.Ask yourself what your complaints are about both familiar and unfamiliar methods.
Step 3: Gain a better idea of what's going on.
Book learning will only take you so far.If you want to understand how to streamline and improve on things within that field, you need to get out into the field.People who didn't have books to work with first discovered the knowledge in books.The people who experienced matters for themselves were the ones who brought about information that would last for a long time.There are no two people who see the world the same way.You can bring your own set of questions and beliefs to the table by viewing or experiencing something for yourself.You might be able to make observations that no one else has yet made.Some unique observations can lead to new innovations in the field.
Step 4: Care about your customers.
It's important to get inside your customers' heads.Standard customer service will benefit you a lot.If you want to think up new ways to address their needs and wants, you need to care about your customers more than you do about their patronage.Get to know your customers as thoroughly as possible.Don't rely on secondhand accounts provided by consultants or research.You should connect with your customers directly.You don't have an official market when you start from scratch.Getting to know prospective customers in your target market is one of the things you'll need to do.
Step 5: Your eyes and ears should not be closed.
As possible, get inspiration from as many sources as possible.During the time you have allotted for inspiration, there won't be new ideas.They come when you least expect them to, and may even come from sources you'd never expect.If you're working in a shared space, posting an idea board in an area everyone passes by is a good idea.Problems and ideas from your team can be posted to the board.As they see fit, other teammates should respond to those issues.The continual exchange of knowledge can lead to new ideas.Listen to what other people have to say about the issues you're working on.You don't need to directly ask them for help with your project, but by observing the complaints and concerns they express, you might gain a better perspective on how to approach the matter.
Step 6: Data can be used to support you.
You may think that something is a great idea, but you won't know whether or not it's worth pursuing until you gather data around that subject.Sometimes the data supports your instincts, but other times it proves you wrong.Customer surveys and product tests are great ways to collect data.You can use these tools to get tailored data for your project.
Step 7: New options need to be introduced.
It can be easy to assume that the two most obvious choices are the only ones.There are new, less obvious choices that are waiting to be discovered just outside of the box.Standard procedures like "Option A" are hard to break from.Questions should be asked why those procedures are standard.Suggest ways to address any weaknesses or flaws in those options.
Step 8: Immediate steps were taken.
You'll be waiting a long time if you wait until you have the funds to make a big plan.Taking small steps toward your goals is a better course of action.Give something tangible to something abstract as soon as possible.A prototype is a project you're working on.Don't try to make all of your improvements on paper.Major innovation is even harder to pull off during tough economic times since your resources are slim and your customers are more resistant to change.Investing everything you have in a major innovation without taking a few small steps can be a waste of resources.You can change direction along the way if you take small steps.
Step 9: The big picture is what you need to look at.
If you want long-term success, you need to make sure that your goals lead you to your desired goal.Don't allow yourself to be blinded by short-term gains.It is usually best to pass those gains on to someone else.
Step 10: It is possible to try again.
Each failure can act as a learning experience.Press forward with new ideas and learn from your past failures.It's never a good idea to expect immediate perfection.Wait for feedback when introducing something new.There are at least some redeemable aspects that will be worth preserving and building upon in the future, even if the entire thing is a failure.
Step 11: Teams separated into small groups.
Before tackling a large project or problem, you should separate yourself into smaller teams.Small teams tend to get work done faster and more effectively than large groups.If a new venture requires expertise from several fields, consider creating multiple small teams to handle each of these aspects separately.Quality assurance might be handled by one team while the legalities by another.Most of the work can be done on its own, even though representatives from the teams will need to meet occasionally.
Step 12: Communication between groups needs to improve.
Even though different aspects of a project or company should be handled by different teams, each team will likely have information that could benefit another group.The teams have to communicate with each other regularly.Information that can benefit other teams should be shared.If one team has to look for an answer that another already knows, they end up wasting time that could have been better spent elsewhere.
Step 13: A few constraints should be introduced.
When it faces opposition, creativity thrives.A few constraints and project parameters can give team members enough of a foundation to build on.The key is not to starve your team.Explain the sort of approach you're looking for andIntroduce specific problems that need to be fixed.Don't put unnecessary restrictions on time and funding on the team.If someone can figure out a way to approach the problem that differs from your outline but still works effectively, take that concept into consideration rather than rejecting it completely.
Step 14: Encouraging risk is a good way to encourage risk.
Innovative minds don't always play it safe.At the beginning of a project there will be a lot of risk.You can encourage the rest of your team to accept it when you accept.The risk of not trying the ideas is emphasized while the perceived risk is minimized.If your customers don't jump on the idea you're presenting, they will be making a big mistake.
Step 15: Reward reduction of risk.
You want to reduce the amount of risk a project faces as you continue to build on it.Workers are encouraged to focus on ways to reduce the risk without compromising the project.Monetary incentives can be effective.When you're in a position that allows you to make the decisions about how to funds are distributed, start by giving each group the finances it needs to overcome some of the initial risks and uncertainties.Grants should be given to the group as the risks are cleared.