Six Things That can Keep Innovation percolating

Company management likes to think that their team is rich with innovators, that their technology is innovative and that their company environment fosters innovation. Yet when you get down to day-to-day management, most favor procedure over innovation, which is seen as a disruptive influence; innovation is for the tough problems.

Ideally though, you'd like innovation percolating at all times, particularly in a young biotechnology company. So it pays to take a look at some things that foster the innovation that short-circuits problems, gives your company a competitive edge, and generates a flow of opportunities.

Here are some things that can keep innovation percolating:

- Limitation
    Acknowledging it and not accepting it.
- New challenges
    Embrace a new challenge or opportunity and be confident enough in the team's ability to handle it to stick your (the company's) neck out a little. If you aren't confident, then do something about it so that you can be - before a challenge becomes an major hurdle or crisis.
- Simplicity and focus
    Has your team boiled the issues down to their essence? Make sure they are not afraid to!
- Deliberately choosing to do things differently
    Not accepting the status quo if there is reason to believe you need better.
- Confidence in core competencies
    Lack of confidence will leave your team clinging to procedures and the status quo, even when the "way of doing things" is no longer working.
- Benchmarking
    There are a lot of good ideas out there, sometimes in a different industry! Watch how others innovate - you might learn something really innovative!

TIP: Innovation isn't just for the new project or problem. Great life science companies have it percolating through their organization every day.
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Gaining and keeping precious and powerful momentum

Innovation creates the opportunities and overcomes the hurdles but momentum, well that is the precious fuel that drives the company to the finish line. There is nothing more satisfying for a senior manager or executive than to have a well-run department or company building upon positive momentum.

Problems can snuff out momentum in a flash, making it hard to rekindle. But there are some practices that can strengthen your management of momentum to keep it fired up even when a challenge is threatening to throw a wet blanket on progress:

-Skills are well-utilized
    >Core competencies are clear.
    >Talent is respected and enabled.
    >Cross-disciplinary input informs and educates.
   
- There is positive flow of information
    > It is two-way, cross-disciplinary, cross-department.
    >There is open communication across levels.
    >Goals plug into a common purpose.

- Work is without waste
    >There is a shared belief in the pipeline goals.
    >The big questions are known amongst groups.
    >Everyone understands the context of their work.
    >Everyone understands how their work relates to and impacts the goals of other groups and the company.

 
TIP: Manage to create and sustain positive momentum with well-utilized talent and good communication.
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