How To Keep Your Team Motivated When Pursuing Innovation

2 February.2023

4 min.

Innovation is undoubtedly crucial for staying ahead in today's fast-paced market. In fact, studies show that businesses that champion innovation are more likely to see revenue growth as a result. But encouraging innovation can also be challenging. It often involves concerns about taking risks, and navigating uncertainty, and the possibility of failure.

On top of that, the demands placed on team members can be intense, and it's easy for motivation to wane. But here's the thing: a motivated team is crucial for successfully fostering innovation within your organization. When your team is motivated, they are more likely to overcome challenges and contribute their best ideas.

So, how can you keep your team motivated as you pursue innovation?

Foster A Culture Of Innovation

Fostering a culture of innovation is key to keeping your team motivated. It creates an environment where it is safe for team members to take risks and experiment. This can help prevent feelings of fear or hesitation, which can be demotivating. In fact, to get creative and innovative solutions, you need to take risks, making the potential for mistakes inevitable.

A culture of innovation also encourages open communication and collaboration, which can help team members feel more connected to one another and the overall goals of the organization. This sense of community and shared purpose can be highly motivating.

It also often includes a focus on continuous learning and growth, which can be motivating in and of itself. When team members feel like they are learning and advancing their skills, they are more likely to stay engaged and motivated. A great example of this is CSS, one of Switzerland's leading health insurance companies, that was able to foster a culture of innovation to empower employees using KICKBOX. CSS has seen participating employees grow and learn new skills, such as programming skills and creative problem-solving.

Celebrate Accomplishments

Recognizing and celebrating accomplishments is an important strategy for keeping your team motivated. When team members feel appreciated for their hard work and contributions, they are more likely to stay motivated and engaged. This can be as simple as saying "thank you" or "great job" when someone does something well, or it can involve more formal recognition such as awards or celebratory events.

Because the KICKBOX online platform encourages open communication and collaboration among innovators, it promotes transparency and allows innovators to share their progress and accomplishments with others, which can help them gain recognition for their work and keep them motivated.

Whatever form it takes, it's important to make a point of acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of your team. This can help to create a positive and supportive work environment, and can ultimately lead to increased motivation and productivity as your team pursues innovation.

Provide Necessary Resources And Support

Another key strategy for keeping your team motivated is to provide necessary resources and support. This could include access to training and development opportunities, as well as the latest technologies and tools, such as KICKBOX. The KICKBOX ecosystem, for example, gives intrapreneurs access to a community of peers to exchange ideas, expand their expertise and run cross-company collaborations. In addition to this, the KICKBOX Marketplace offers access to additional Coaches via the online innovation platform, to help execute every phase of the innovation process.

By investing in your team's learning and growth, you show that you value their contributions and are committed to their professional development. Additionally, providing support for new ideas and experimentation can help create a sense of ownership and empowerment among team members, which can in turn boost motivation. It's important to keep in mind that every team is different, so it's crucial to assess the specific needs and resources of your team in order to effectively support their motivation and success.

Make It Fun

Making innovation fun is a key factor in keeping your team motivated. One way to do this is by incorporating gamification elements into your innovation process. This can include elements such as rewards, competitions, and recognition for successful ideas.

The KICKBOX program, for example, uses a gamified approach by giving participants a RedBox with a starting budget and time allocation, and then gradually increasing their resources and responsibilities as they reach each step of the innovation process. This creates a sense of excitement and achievement for the team, as well as a strong connection to the innovation ecosystem.

By making innovation exciting and engaging, you can not only boost motivation but also increase the likelihood of success in your pursuit of new ideas and solutions.

The pursuit of innovation can be demanding, but with the right strategies in place, you can keep your team motivated and on track. By fostering a culture of innovation, encouraging open communication and collaboration, recognizing and celebrating accomplishments, providing resources and support for learning and growth, and gamifying the process, you can create a motivated team that is well-equipped to tackle the challenges of pursuing innovation.

Let us give you and your team the tools to promote innovation in your company. If you're rready to transform your business in all aspects, then reach out to us.