5 Key Strategies For Embracing Innovation in Business » LION+MASON 5 Key Strategies For Embracing Innovation in Business UX Design
Ironically, the one constant in life is change. However, not everybody is as open to accepting change as they should be. This is especially prevalent with many people in business.
It is easy to stick to what you know, maintaining the processes and strategies that you are comfortable with. But being willing to adapt and innovate makes all the difference with regards to the level of success and profit your company makes.
Amazon is a prime example of a business that refused to stand still – and we all know how well that turned out for them. They started off selling books online before expanding their products and services to the point that the company now has a net worth of $1.5 trillion. This would not be the case if the company had refused to grow and innovate.
With this in mind, we are going to take a look at five key strategies for embracing innovation in your business.
1. Always keep an eye on the future
The key to longevity is to always have one eye on the future. Looking forward and noting upcoming trends, technologies and changes in customer behaviour.
The time and energy required to run a company on a day-to-day basis can make looking too far ahead a challenge. But it is only by looking forwards that we can prepare for the challenges and opportunities that will come our way.
If you are not prepared to pivot, grow and innovate in business, you are going to get left behind and lose out to your competitors who are willing to take chances.
2. Listen to employee pain points
Business leaders can gain valuable insight from their employees. They are the ones working the shop floor on a daily basis, dealing with customers and listening to their questions and opinions.
Your staff can offer ideas for improvements based on first-hand experience of your products, services, processes and procedures. Be sure to listen to them and take their views on board. They may provide an innovative solution that you would not have thought of yourself.
3. Don’t be afraid of failure
One of the main reasons that businesses avoid making changes is due to the possibility of failure. If the current business model is working, why would you want to risk time and money on a project that may not work out?
It is true that not all attempts at growth will work as planned. But within these unsuccessful trials lies the opportunity for learning and improvement.
By being open to failure, you are also welcoming opportunity for substantial growth that does not come with playing safe. Innovative companies take risks and learn from their mistakes. This is vital for business growth, whatever your industry.
4. Listen to your customers
We spoke earlier about how listening to the views and opinions of your employees is beneficial. Listening to your customers is even more so.
If your business is to be successful for the long term, you cannot assume you know what your customers want – and that their needs will not change with time.
Nobody knows better how effective your products and services are than your customers. By listening to customer opinions on what is working and where improvements to your service can be made, you can create the optimum user experience and drive growth in an organic fashion.
Expect the preferences of your customers to change, and be prepared to make adjustments in response.
5. Be open to collaboration
If your ability to make meaningful change within your business is due to lack of knowledge or resources, you can always collaborate with other businesses to fill the gaps where necessary.
Being open to pulling in freelancers to take on work that your full-time team does not have the capacity to complete is a great way to get things done without making a long-term financial commitment.
Hiring an external marketing agency is an effective solution for companies that do not have sufficient knowledge to execute a successful marketing strategy.
The same goes for the implementation of innovative tech solutions. If you have the motivation but lack the know-how, draft in an expert team. The willingness to let others help is critical to the ongoing success of a business.
Innovate, don’t hesitate
By implementing the above strategies in your business, you are committing to growing your business and securing a place within your industry for years to come.
It is only by adopting new processes and trialling alternative tools that true growth and longevity can be achieved.