Innovation is a buzzword that gets thrown around a lot these days, but the reality is that many organisations struggle to actually make it happen. In this article, we’ll discuss the common challenges leaders face when trying to foster innovation in a not-for-profit organisation, and share the secret to creating a truly innovative and impactful organisation.
There are a number of factors that can get in the way of innovation, even for organisations that are eager to make it happen.
Resourcing Challenges
Many leaders are simply overwhelmed - too many priorities, and not enough resources to get it all done. They're juggling too much change so they're spending the whole time focused on their business as usual work and not on innovation.
Fear of Disruption
One of the major concerns for many organisations is the potential disruption to existing programs and services that people rely on. Leaders worry that implementing new ideas might negatively impact these crucial offerings.
Culture of Risk Aversion
It might be that you’ve just joined an organisation or you’ve been in one for a long time, but it can be really difficult to see a path to becoming an innovative organisation when you have a culture of people around you who are risk averse.
Lack of Training and Capability
It's really tricky to innovate when you don't have the knowledge and the skills to be able to do that confidently. This gap in capability makes it challenging for organisations to innovate effectively, as people need the right tools and confidence to implement successfully.
Lack of Clear Goals or "Big Reasons" to Innovate
Without a motivating vision, people often wonder, "Why bother?” If there's no reason to innovate, people aren't going to jump out of their comfort zone, try new things, take measured risks, or push for change. Having a strong, inspiring mission is crucial for encouraging innovation, as it gives people the motivation and purpose to step beyond their usual routines and explore new possibilities.
The Secret to Successful Innovation
So how do you overcome these challenges and create an organisation that's truly innovative and impactful? Here’s the secret, you need to shift your focus from individual innovation projects to building innovation into the very DNA of your organisation's culture and way of working.
This means less focus on individual innovation projects and more focus on setting up the right conditions, resources, processes, training etc so that innovation becomes something that is easy and accessible to all members of the organisation. From there you will launch multiple innovation projects, many more than you will have if you didn’t do this work first.
If you're a leader who's been struggling to make innovation a reality in your organisation, don't get discouraged. By shifting your focus to building an innovative culture, and putting the right foundations in place, you can unlock the power of innovation to drive real, lasting impact. And if you want to know more on how to do that, check out the link below. It's what we do!
🎯 Are you looking to create a high performing not-for-profit organisation that delivers more impact? Let us help you to unlock innovation within your organisation with our innovate for impact workshop. Click here to find out more.
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