Building an Innovative Culture: A Practical Guide for Business Leaders

Every company wants an innovative culture, but what does that actually look like? Innovative culture is a very real representation of what happens inside a business, even when no one is looking. It’s about sharing passion in the things you do collectively.

To build an innovative culture in your organization, start by analyzing the ins and outs of your current cultural system. Identify the strong aspects of the company culture and then take a deeper look into what’s holding it back. Is it shaped by outdated values or new ones? Is it shaped by values or employees? The first step in building an innovative company culture is by analyzing the current one and finding ways to make it better.

Be intentional with your innovation plans. Don’t fall into the generic corporate vision trap by aiming to be “the number 1 provider of XYZ.” Decide how you want to change the world, and then make it completely customer-focused.

Create free time for your employees. Give them time to work on creative tasks and encourage them to take it. It’s much more intentional than vague messages about how important it is to allow time for innovation.

Every leader knows it’s important to recognize success. But formal recognition doesn’t create lasting effects. Create a culture of recognition first, and give informal rewards often. By doing this, you create a performance-based culture.

Don’t micromanage. If you provide employees with “free time” to explore new ideas, be careful not to over-manage the situation. Provide support, structure, and encouragement, but let colleagues dive in on their own without breathing down anyone’s neck.

Make sure leadership teams are fully on board. Change needs to start from the top, and it needs full commitment from those in senior roles. Leadership teams should set an example and become role models for the rest of the company, demonstrating what’s expected from everyone.

Finally, refresh your hiring process. Innovation is about having the right people, so if you’re deterring quality applicants with an outdated hiring process, it’s time to make that right. Hire smart people, then empower them to teach you.

All of this can sound overwhelming, but there are tools that can help. Submit.com is a software platform designed to help organizations streamline their processes, increase their efficiencies, and foster an innovative culture. With Submit.com, you can easily create custom workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and centralize your data, allowing you to focus on what matters most: building an innovative culture.

So, if you want to start building an innovative culture in your organization, contact Submit.com today. Let them help you create a culture that encourages creativity, rewards innovation, and fosters growth. Don’t wait any longer; start building the culture you want today.