I recently had a prospective client ask me, "How can I make my employees just "do" innovation?" 

Well...it took a few back and forth discussions to clarify that statement, but what she was essentially asking was, "How long until my employees innovate without even thinking about it?" 

Whew...that's a tough one!

I actually get asked this question a lot when presenting at conferences and other speaking opportunities, so I thought I would give out my Top Ten of Making Innovation Happen Every Day:

1.     Innovation MUST be tied to the organizational strategy

2.     Innovation MUST be on the leadership agenda and discussed at every leadership meeting

3.     Innovation MUST be led by at least one C-Level or SVP-Level person

4.     Ideas (from ANY source) MUST have a path/process to follow

5.     Customers/Consumer MUST have a voice

6.     Resources (People, Money & Time) MUST be made available for innovation

7.     A culture of risk taking, fast failure, experimentation and imagination MUST exist and be supported/protected

8.     The organization MUST be made up of skilled and diverse individuals who are set "free"

9.     The organization MUST seek to be a leader of "next practices" not a follower of "best practices"

10.     The organization MUST have the courage to KILL projects, ideas, lines of business, etc. that don't work

Once you have these ten "MUST's" in place, I think you will find that your employees, front-line managers, middle managers and senior leaders will be innovating...everyday...all day...