Culture eats strategy for breakfast – and innovation for dessert! :messer_gabel_teller:
How many times have I seen brilliant product ideas fail because of company culture? Too many! And yet it’s so obvious: the best innovations arise where curiosity, openness, and courage are truly lived.
Three cultural aspects that, in my experience, are critical:
:eins: Tolerance for mistakes: In a culture where mistakes are punished, employees will hardly dare to try new things. Innovation needs experimentation – and sometimes experiments fail. That has to be okay!
:zwei: Freedom from hierarchy: Flat structures encourage the free exchange of ideas. When the intern is allowed to challenge the CEO, the best discussions happen.
:drei: Resource allocation: An innovative culture provides time and budget for experimentation. Without the necessary “play money,” the best ideas stay locked in the drawer.
My takeaway from countless innovation projects: Culture is the fertile ground on which new products grow – or don’t.
If you don’t actively shape your company culture, you shouldn’t be surprised by a lack of innovation.
How do you experience the impact of company culture on innovation? Which factors do you find particularly critical?