Written by: Kevin Gardner
In the technology sector, new developments arise each day. This field is constantly moving, and it's essential to ensure that when you are running a tech company, your employees are constantly feeling excited and inspired by progress in this field. With this inspiration comes human innovation, and with that comes the brainstorming of new ideas. You never know when a new vision will become something revolutionary.
Inspire Some Friendly Competition
For many individuals, few things inspire innovation like some friendly competition among their peers. When running a tech business, it goes without saying that some of your employees may be exceptionally gifted in the field of technological development, so why not create a contest for the most innovative new product, such as an app? Inquire in the community about possible business sponsors that can help purchase prizes or other incentives for your employees.
When creating something like a web page or an application, individuals can get bogged down in the code. Trying software that keeps complex code to a minimum can inspire innovation simply by utilizing low code platforms for creation.
Bring in Motivational Speakers
While it may sound cheesy to some, a good motivational speaker is worth his or her weight in gold. Create a professional development conference and bring in a couple of excellent speakers with good track records as far as their contributions to tech go. Choose speakers with charismatic personalities with a proven track record of inspiring change and motivation in tech companies. It's a great idea to look for professionals who are skilled and knowledgeable about emerging trends in tech. Sometimes, just hearing about new possibilities in this field can inspire that light bulb to go off, and from there, encourage your staff to run with their ideas. Your employees need to be emotionally affected to encourage innovation that can bring forth interesting developments. You never know when a new app will revolutionize any given field.
Create the Safest of Spaces
It's unlikely that anyone wants to work in an environment where there is any fear, whether that be fear of being reprimanded or fear of simply not measuring up to the creativity of their peers. Employees that show interest in further professional development opportunities should be offered those chances in hopes that some wonderful ideas may come to fruition. Additionally, make your business a place where employees need not fear that their failures will define them. Most of the very best innovators that have ever lived have dealt with failure multiple times before achieving success.
Encourage Constant Collaboration
It may be a good idea to call your employees together regularly. Encourage relationships between these individuals so that they will have a good comfort level with one another. Once people are comfortable, they will speak more freely, and this will allow for an increased exchange of ideas. Continued collaboration will naturally occur with the combination of great minds in a relaxed, safe atmosphere. Keep a running list of thoughts and ideas that are brainstormed during collaboration sessions. E-mail these ideas to your staff to not only encourage more ideas but to think more deeply about future possibilities.
Create friendly contests among teams. Depending on what your specific tech business is, these teams can each create an idea, a product, or a concept. Bring in prizes, certificates, or small plaques to encourage competition. Ask for trusted colleagues to judge the entries. The great minds of your employees have the potential to change the future.
Technological developments move quickly in today's fast-paced, advanced world. Yesterday's biggest and best tech is likely to be outdated before very long, which makes creating an atmosphere of innovation and inspiration particularly important.
Related: Looking Past Digital Transformation