Sustaining Innovation:
Build Belonging
When it comes to sustaining innovation, no one succeeds solo. The teams that stick with it aren’t just skilled – they’re connected. They have people they can reach out to for ideas, encouragement, or a little push to keep going.
After leading hundreds of Innovation Engineering trainings, one thing stands out: those who build community keep their momentum. In sessions where an entire department or project team comes through together, you can feel the energy. They leave with a shared language, trust, and a sense of “we’re in this.”
Even if your team didn’t train together, you can still create that same connection:
- Start small. Create a group chat or channel with others who’ve been trained. Use it to share successes, ask for feedback, or just say, “Anyone else tried this?”
- Keep it alive. Set a simple rhythm – maybe a quick monthly touch base or idea share. It doesn’t need to be fancy; it just needs to happen.
- Make it visible. When people see innovation wins (big or small) being recognized, it reminds everyone they’re part of something bigger.
The sense of belonging you build will fuel your culture far beyond any single project. Innovation thrives when people feel connected, supported, and seen.