With new AI technologies accelerating go-to-market strategies, the pressure to innovate fast has never been higher. In fact, if you look at nearly every workplace trend over the past year, innovation is the common thread. Companies like Amazon have even made headlines for their return-to-office mandates, hoping to spark stronger collaboration and more of that “startup-like innovation.”
But the advice on how to actually become more innovative is often vague. As a leader, it’s not enough to just tell your team to “think outside the box.” Creativity is a skill — it needs to be learned, practiced, and supported. And innovation doesn’t always mean big, flashy ideas. More often, it shows up as small, thoughtful improvements made by curious people who feel empowered to try something new.
So, how do you develop an innovative mindset on your team?
Frame brainstorms with a goal in mind
Innovation for the sake of being different isn't likely to move your company forward. But when you focus your brainstorms on clear outcomes, your team stands to make a bigger impact. During your project discussions, try to frame questions around a particular goal. For example, you might ask, "How can we get this task done faster and to a higher quality?" or "What new feature would excite our customers the most?" Questions like these keep your team focused on a solvable challenge, rather than an abstract ambition. And the more your team practices solution-focused thinking, the more confident they’ll get in shaping high-value ideas.
Key question: “Which desired outcomes can you help your team brainstorm around?”
Create space for experimentation
Innovation and failure go hand in hand — and your team might not try something new if they fear getting it wrong. That’s why creating a culture where experimentation is encouraged and celebrated is critical. Start by carving out small windows for testing. For instance, give a team one week to prototype a new internal process and report back on what worked and what didn’t. Or use a retrospective to ask, like “What’s one experiment we could try next time that might improve our workflow?” When experimentation becomes a habit, innovation becomes sustainable.
Key question: “What low-risk experiments can your team try this month?”
Coach the whole process
It's easy to fall into the trap of judging ideas instead of shaping them. But when you can become your team's thought partner, you will help them strengthen their creative thinking and execution skills for the future. So, find times to get updates on your innovation progress and ask the stakeholders to walk you through their thought process. If you don't believe their thinking is sound, try to avoid saying things like "That will never work." Instead, remind them of their perimeters and ask them how they're thinking of solving them. For example, if a project is getting too complicated and might not be completed in the timeline needed, ask, "How can we simplify this idea so it's more feasible this quarter?" Supporting your team throughout the process not only leads to a better outcome, it also helps build psychological safety, making them feel more confident and supported throughout the creative process.
Key question: “How can you help your team build better ideas without shutting them down?”
Stress the value of research
Great innovation starts with deep understanding — be it of the customer, the market, or even your own workflow. So, try to make research a regular part of your team’s process. Encourage your employees to talk to users, analyze competitors, or conduct a quick internal survey before proposing ideas, so they're better informed. Even think about assigning one team member each week to bring back a trend, insight, or customer quote that sparks discussion. These small efforts add up, creating a shared knowledge base that feeds better ideas.
Key question: “What kind of research can your team regularly gather to spark better thinking?”
Recognize and reward creativity
If you've ever tried anything new, then you know that it's not always easy to put yourself out there and present your ideas. So, whether your team's creative projects are a knockout success or fall flat, recognize and celebrate the effort. Find times to shout out innovative thinking during your team standups or even call out individuals during your all-hands meetings. Make sure they know you appreciate and champion their efforts, so they feel encouraged to keep going. Over time, this builds confidence and keeps innovation top of mind.
Key question: “How can you celebrate innovation on your team?”
