How to Engage Employees in Innovation—and Make It Part of Everyday Work

Innovation isn’t just for R&D teams or leadership—it’s a company-wide effort. Yet, one of the biggest challenges organizations face is engaging employees in innovation while they manage their daily responsibilities. 

In my latest Knowledge Series session, How to Involve Employees for Faster, More Impactful Innovation Results, we explored practical strategies to successfully integrate employees into innovation efforts, driving both speed and impact. 

Here’s what we uncovered. 

Why Employee Engagement in Innovation Matters 

Organizations that embrace employee-driven innovation are more agile and better equipped to handle industry disruptions. But despite leadership enthusiasm, employee participation is often hindered by competing priorities and unclear expectations. 

The ISO 56001 standard for innovation management systems underscores the importance of employee engagement as a key pillar of a successful innovation strategy. When employees are actively involved, companies benefit from fresh ideas, increased collaboration, and a stronger culture of innovation. 

The Key Challenge: Balancing Innovation and Daily Tasks 

Employees are busy keeping daily operations running smoothly, making it difficult for them to dedicate time to innovation. Traditional approaches, such as suggestion boxes, have failed because: 

• Ideas often lack alignment with company goals or available resources. 

• Employees feel disengaged when their contributions are ignored. 

• There’s no structured process for moving ideas forward. 

Despite these challenges, organizations can create an environment where employees are motivated and empowered to contribute to innovation. 

What Leaders Want vs. What Employees Need

For innovation programs to be successful, companies must bridge the gap between leadership expectations and employee needs. 

Leaders Want Employees To: 

• Be creative and contribute fresh ideas. 

• Think beyond their immediate tasks and focus on business growth. 

• Collaborate across teams and departments. 

• Align innovation efforts with company priorities. 

Employees Want: 

• To work for an organization that’s forward-thinking and competitive. 

• A clear path for career growth and opportunities to contribute. 

• A fair and open innovation process where meritocracy, not hierarchy, dictates which ideas get implemented. 

• A voice in shaping the company’s future. 

Why Innovation is Critical for Business Relevance 

The need for continuous innovation is more urgent than ever. The average lifespan of a company in the S&P 500 has shrunk from 61 years in 1958 to less than 18 years due to rapid disruption. Organizations that fail to innovate risk becoming obsolete. 

By engaging employees, businesses can: 

• Stay ahead of competitors. 

• Build a culture that attracts and retains top talent. 

• Ensure long-term resilience and growth. 

Common Barriers to Employee Engagement in Innovation 

1. Lack of KPIs for Innovation: Most companies don’t measure employees on innovation efforts, making it an afterthought. 
2. Time Constraints: Employees cite being too busy as a reason for not participating in innovation. 
3. Geographical and Time Zone Challenges: In global organizations, collaboration across teams is difficult. 
4. Lack of Visibility: Employees don’t always see the impact of their contributions, leading to disengagement. 

How to Successfully Engage Employees in Innovation 

1. Move Beyond Suggestion Boxes

Instead of an open-ended approach, provide employees with structured focus areas for innovation. This ensures their contributions align with company priorities and available resources. 

2. Use Targeted Questions to Drive Engagement

Rather than asking for random ideas, leaders should pose specific challenges, such as: 

• "How can we improve customer experience with existing resources?" 

• "What process improvements would save time and effort in your daily work?
  

3. Engage Employees Where They Work

Innovation participation should be seamless and accessible, whether through mobile apps, collaboration platforms, or internal innovation hubs. Employees shouldn’t need to step away from their daily responsibilities to contribute. 

4. Foster Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing

Avoid siloed knowledge by fostering a culture where employees can network, share expertise, and collaborate across departments. Innovation thrives when diverse perspectives come together. 

5. Build a Meritocratic Innovation Process

Employees need to see that the best ideas, not the loudest voices or seniority, dictate what gets implemented. Transparency in decision-making increases trust and participation. 

Final Thoughts: Creating a Sustainable Innovation Culture 

Innovation isn’t a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process. Companies that integrate structured engagement strategies will not only see better innovation results but will also cultivate a culture of collaboration, agility, and continuous improvement. 

Want to explore employee-driven innovation in action? Watch my knowledge session, How to Involve Employees for Faster, More Impactful Innovation Results.