Doing things because that is always what we have done is never a good business strategy. All organisations need to be constantly reevaluating what they are doing and why. If the business case indicates continuing with what we know is the best course, then by all means keep doing that. But how do you know?
You know by looking at alternatives. Some organisations are fortunate enough to have employees who seem to ooze good ideas, but that is not typically the case. So what do the leaders of an organisation do?
While some leaders think it is their job to come up with the good ideas, that only limits the organisation to the brilliance (or otherwise) of those leaders. Great leaders instead utilise the resources around them to draw on the ideas of so many others. According to a recent article by NAB (Easy Ways to Innovate for Success) there are three things an organisation can do to put themselves in the best possible position:
- Talk to customers – incredibly they know what they want and what they need from you. Ask, find out, and then develop.
- Talk to the people within your organisation – the people who have to deliver know what it takes. Listen to them and trust that they may know more about the nitty gritty than you do
- Create a culture of ideas – recognise and reward innovative ideas in your organisation. It may be as simple as publicly acknowledging where the genesis of the idea came from rather than taking credit for it. More good ideas flow when people know they won’t be ‘stolen’ or ignored.
A challenge for you – are you listening to and rewarding new and good ideas, or is your business limited only to what you can offer?
The Avondale Business School can advise your organisation on being effective in these areas – find out how by contacting Warrick Long at the Avondale Business School.
P: 02 4980 2168