"Success is neither mysterious or magical.  Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals." - Jim Rohn

I am constantly asked the same question..."What do I need to make innovation happen in my organization?"

And that's usually followed by..."And I really just want to know the basics...the key points."

If you know me...you'll know that I cringe at this question.  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of unique combinations of skill sets, processes, tools, techniques and leadership styles that take a little luck and some money and other resources to get innovation to "happen" in any organization.

But, I'd be a pretty poor consultant and thought-leader if I didn't at least have a quick answer.  So...here is the absolute bare minimum of what you need to have innovation succeed in your organization: 

1. At least one senior leader willing to be engaged (more than engaged...participatory)
2. Resources – people, money, time and space
3. Treat innovation as a business discipline, not as an event
4. A process/mechanism for moving ideas forward (do SOMETHING with the ideas you get)

If you start with this foundation, you're already well on your way to success!