Fostering Innovation: Creating an Environment for Creative Thinking Curiosity and Collaboration

Innovation isn’t just about groundbreaking ideas—it’s about seeing opportunities where others see routine, and empowering people to think differently about the work they do every day. Over the years, I’ve discovered that fostering innovation isn’t a one-time effort. It’s a mindset that requires structure, encouragement, and a willingness to challenge the norm.

One of the most rewarding parts of my leadership journey has been working with new team members. When someone joins the team, I see it as an opportunity—not just for them to learn from us, but for us to learn from them. That’s why part of every new hire’s 30-60-90 day plan includes something unconventional: by the end of their first 90 days, they present a proposal to change how something is done. It might be a small improvement in their own scope or a broader idea that impacts the entire team.

This isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. It’s about setting the tone from the start: innovation is everyone’s responsibility, no matter how new you are or where you sit in the organization. It’s been remarkable to see how fresh perspectives—combined with structured planning and skill development—can uncover opportunities that even seasoned team members (myself included) sometimes overlook.

One area where this has had a significant impact is Automation. Over the past few years, I’ve encouraged team members to explore beginner-level automation tools and apply their learning to small, manageable projects. The beauty of this approach is that it’s accessible to everyone, and the results can be profound. I’ve witnessed small-scale automation initiatives—ideas born out of curiosity—that ended up delivering more value than larger, more complex projects.

But innovation isn’t just about tools or processes. It’s about creating a culture where people feel safe to experiment, challenge the status quo, and learn from their efforts. I often remind my team: “It’s either you convince me, or I convince you—but either way, we succeed as a team.” This collaborative mindset has been a cornerstone of our ability to innovate. Even when things don’t go as planned, we reflect, adapt, and try again until we get it right.

Some of the most impactful ideas I’ve seen didn’t start as grand visions. They started with someone saying, “What if we tried this?” By providing time, space, and encouragement for these moments, we’ve been able to turn small sparks of curiosity into lasting changes. One team member’s proposal, for instance, involved automating a simple data reconciliation process. What started as a small experiment ended up saving hours of manual work each week, freeing up the team to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Cross-functional collaboration has also been a key driver of innovation in my experience. Bringing together people with different skills, perspectives, and experiences can lead to solutions that none of us would have arrived at on our own. I’ve worked on projects where the most valuable insights came not from experts, but from those willing to ask, “Why not?”

Leadership plays a critical role in fostering this kind of culture. I make it a point to model the behaviors I want to see—whether that’s sharing my own experiences with failed experiments or taking risks on bold ideas. I’ve learned that leading by example isn’t about being perfect; it’s about showing that learning, adapting, and growing are part of the process.

Recognition is another powerful tool. Celebrating effort, no matter the outcome, reinforces the idea that innovation isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about being brave enough to try. Whether it’s a simple thank-you, a spotlight during a team meeting, or an opportunity to share their work with a broader audience, I make sure that people know their contributions are valued.

Innovation, at its core, is about curiosity. It’s about asking questions, exploring possibilities, and never settling for “the way we’ve always done it.” By creating an environment where curiosity is encouraged and collaboration is celebrated, I’ve seen teams achieve things they once thought impossible.

So, how are you fostering innovation in your organization? What small changes have sparked big impacts? I’d love to hear your stories, because when it comes to innovation, every idea—no matter how small—has the potential to transform.