The ways to help staff feel part of the team - Michelle Mook

It really got me thinking: how do you develop a truly innovative workforce? I concluded that it is about creating an actively engaged team, and there are three key things at play: vision, culture and environment.

It starts at the very top of your business, and having a vision that inspires. You are far more likely to see people adopt an innovative mindset in a business if they know where it is heading and what it is

aiming to achieve. If your people are clear on that, the ideas they have are much more likely to be aligned with your organisational goals. Without that connection to the bigger picture, how can we expect people to contribute ideas that are relevant?

The role of company culture cannot be underestimated here, either. In a blame culture, people will try and hide mistakes rather than learn from them because they fear criticism from managers and leaders. Who’s going to take accountability for solving a problem when they think they’ll be blamed if it doesn’t work? In this environment creativity is stifled, and people are reluctant to come forward with ideas.

Conversely, in a culture where failure is seen as a step towards success, where people are encouraged to learn from mistakes rather than berated for them, they are far more likely to suggest new ways of doing things.

It’s also important to nurture an environment where people are encouraged to collaborate and given time and space in their roles to think, reflect, and problem-solve. If you give people opportunities – and, importantly, permission - to step off the treadmill from time to time, question why they do things and think about whether there could be a better way, new ideas are far more likely to emerge.

Without a clear business vision, a culture of innovation will generate ideas without focus. Without the right culture, people will be afraid to share their ideas and innovation is stifled. Without the right environment, people find it hard to carve out the time to think creatively.

If business leaders focus on all three: building a vision people can get behind; an open and curious culture; and an environment where people have space and permission to contribute new ideas and try new things without fear of recrimination, I believe engagement will increase, productivity will improve, and innovation will thrive.

Michelle Mook is MD of learning and development company Pro-Development and Yorkshire and the Humber Area Network Ambassador for employee engagement movement, Engage for Success.