"If you want someone to be on time, buy them a watch." - Unknown   

Perhaps one of my favorite quotes.  I am a HUGE believer that if you need something done correctly, use the right tool for the job.  That is as true for digging a post hole as much as it is for operationalizing an innovation management system.  I've seen too many occasions where eager executives "talk the talk" regarding innovation initiatives, willing to convince anyone who will listen that their organization is innovative, creative and inventive.  Unfortunately, they just as often fail to "walk the talk" when it comes to providing the most important resource in innovation/idea management (people) with the tools necessary to move ideas forward.  And...innovation can only occur when you move ideas forward.

So what are the tools you should use as you establish/cultivate/support your idea and innovation management systems:

• Leadership
  • This is the most important tool!  Without strong and supportive leadership, your innovation initiative will fail.
• Imagination
  • Your organization, or more importantly, the people within your organization, must be allowed to imagine.  Imagine what's next.  Imagine what customers need/want.  Imagine the next big thing.  Inspire imagination!
• Idea/Innovation Management Processes
  • These process sets can be as formal (or informal) as your organization.  The bottom line is to establish some kind of logical path for ideas to follow.
• Culture
  • Foster a collaborative, supportive, risk-tolerant and failure-accepting culture.
• Resources
  • Time, money, people, software, collaboration tools, conference rooms, facilitators, consultants, consumer focus groups, etc.
• Measurements
  • Establish metrics (keep the simple) to lock in where you've been, map out where you are going and set a course with regular milestones to make sure you are still on the right path

So...the next time you declare, "We should be more innovative!"...make sure you provide the tools that your team needs to succeed.  In other words, "buy your team a watch!"