As a PR firm, business innovation might not be at the top of your list, but it should be. As we head in 2019, there are probably a lot of things that your firm has in mind to achieve and improve. One of those things should be being a more innovative business. Without innovation, growth and transformation are limited. As a result, businesses fall behind. So if you want to stay ahead of the game, here are a few tips on how to be a more innovative PR firm:
Be flexible
There’s a difference between wanting to innovative and actually being innovative. Being innovative requires a certain degree of flexibility that allows for changes in the organisation and the way it does things. For firms to facilitate innovation, there needs to be a structure that is accepts change and is malleable based on new and improved ideas.
If your firm has an innovative idea, then the firm needs to have focus and goals around that idea. There needs to be flexible attitudes from senior management to lower level employees to take on new ideas and approaches to effectively move forward.
Develop a culture of innovation
To be truly innovative, there needs to be acceptance for new and improved ideas. People in the firm should be encouraged to think outside the box and bring their unique thoughts and approaches to the table. As a result, individuals with a skill and passion for innovation have an opportunity to put their best foot forward.
A culture of innovation is supported by individuals excited by the prospect of business innovation – including leaders and team members at all levels of the organization. This doesn’t mean that everyone has to have an innovative idea. Successful teams are made of a diverse set of personalities, skills and interests. Having a core group of people to be part of the innovative process is essential to building an innovative business.
Making business innovation a priority
To make business innovation a priority in the firm, there has to be clear directive from management specifying the importance of business innovation. Make business innovation like any other business objective by creating concrete timelines with specific goals. Have regular meetings around the topic and make it something that is an actionable item for your employees. In this way, you will be able to weave business innovation into your daily business activities.
Create a safe environment that is open to feedback and change
First and foremost, people need to feel safe to express their ideas. Secondly, they need to be open to their ideas getting negative feedback or failing or getting shot down. Failure is a necessary part of being a business that prioritizes innovation. A good innovative leader is open to a wide variety of ideas, even if it might seem to steer away from the initial vision. As a leader, it is important to make sure that innovation is aligned with the business values and mission, while at the same time, being open to ideas that might seem out of the ordinary.