Leaders say they want greater innovation and frequently rank it among their top 3 priorities.

Yet they is a disconnect between what they say and what they do.

Perhaps it is the many barriers to innovation they face.

Here is my list of barriers I have found in my work with leaders and managers. These are listed in no particular order:

– Existing work-loads

– Time-poor

– A risk-adverse culture

– Takes time

– Current success (i.e. why change something when it is working)

– Habit e.g. the use of brainstorming & meetings as the only tools of creativity & ideation.

– Lack of money and people

– Lack of leadership engagement

– Lack of role models

– Not part of my KPI’s (i.e. innovation is important but it does not get me my bonus at the end of the year).

It is no wonder that getting innovation off the ground is difficult.

It takes hard work, perseverance, resources and small wins innovation to move forward.

Innovation involves risk but increasingly the path of not innovating is even more so.

The good news is that with a robust plan and a motivated team innovation can thrive.

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