Innovation is a buzzword used by many organisations today. However, it is crucial for businesses of any size to keep up with the competition and adapt to the changing world we live in. After all, we never know what the future holds, and it is possible that flying cars will be invented at any moment.

For example, the emergence of Generative AI has dramatically transformed numerous businesses and their interactions with technology (for better or for worse). Those businesses that have successfully adapted to this revolution are now considered innovative because innovation is not only about creating new products but also about discovering new ways of doing things and solving problems.

But when innovation is harnessed effectively, it can have a huge impact on businesses and society as a whole. For example, imagine sending satellites to space to provide detailed information about our planet daily to industry leaders to increase efficiency, cut down costs and minimise environmental impacts like Esper Satellites.

The possibilities when individuals and organisations are innovative are endless (especially when you have ChatGPT to help). So it’s important to understand how to harness innovative mindsets and practices to create a larger impact for the communities you serve. Here are 5 steps from our experience supercharging innovation capabilities for 5,000+ individuals through HEX:

1. Create a culture of innovation.

To harness innovation successfully, it is essential to build a work environment that facilitates creativity, experimentation, and risk-taking. Employees must feel at ease to suggest and test new ideas without the fear of failure. Leaders should set the tone by creating a culture of celebrating failures as opportunities to learn, rather than viewing them as setback #growthmindset

Additionally, partnering with external entities, such as HEX, can help you gain new perspectives and insights and develop innovative solutions that you may not have been able to come up with on your own!

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2. Invest in innovation.

As a business, it's a no-brainer that financial sustainability is vital (Captain Obvious here!). However, it's crucial to provide your teams with the opportunity to focus solely on innovation. By dedicating time and resources to innovative thinking, even if it doesn't deliver immediate ROI, you can develop new and innovative solutions that will better support your audiences in the long run. For example:

• Google has a program called "20% time" that allows employees to spend 20% of their work time on projects of their own choosing
• Atlassian has a program called "ShipIt Day" that happens once a quarter. On ShipIt Day, employees are encouraged to work on any project that they want, as long as they can ship it by the end of the day
• Spotify has a program called "Hack Weeks" that happens several times a year. During Hack Weeks, employees are encouraged to form teams and work on any project that they want

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3. Align it with your mission and vision.

Innovation is a thrilling and enjoyable (and sometimes even scary) process, but it's crucial not to lose sight of your initial motivation - the reason why you get out of bed every day. While brainstorming new concepts, it is surprisingly easy to deviate and forget about the communities you originally intended to support. Sometimes, you may end up creating initiatives that seem beneficial to you, but they do not serve the people you are trying to help (not beneficial to either party).

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4. Embrace technology.

The emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and more, has created innovative products and services that can have a significant impact. To keep up with these advancements, stay updated by subscribing to newsletters, attending events and talking to experts in the industry (or stalking their LinkedIn). However, it's equally important to consider how easily your target audience can adopt these new technologies. If the technology is too complicated or requires too much time, there may be a lack of adoption or a high drop-off rate, even if it's the newest and flashiest piece of tech.

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5. Iterate and learn.

Every innovative idea may not succeed initially (shocking!). That's why it's crucial to iterate, understand why they failed, and make changes accordingly. Consistently talking with your community is important because they can provide valuable feedback on your innovative products, services, or processes. You must always prioritise your community and keep them at the centre of your thoughts in everything you do (even in your sleep).

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By following these tips, we hope you can harness innovation for a huge impact on your business and society as a whole! Together, let’s build the world we want to live in. 

If you are interested in learning more about how you can make your organisation more innovative through HEX’s innovation programs, email nathan@startwithhex.com