Innovation Fatigue

Years ago, at a company far, far away, I was leading a large innovation project, and we hit a wall 🧱. 

Innovation fatigue had set in. Our once inspired team felt drained and uninspired. It was a classic case of pushing too hard without pausing for reflection 🤔. 

The excitement that once fueled our projects had turned into exhaustion. I remember seeing the telltale signs. People were coming to work like zombies 🧟‍♂️, creativity stifled by routine. Our meetings, once vibrant brainstorming sessions, had become monotonous rituals. 

There was one meeting, though, that changed everything. One of our engineers, usually quiet, stood up and said something like we need to start over. That was a moment of clarity 💡. 

We stepped back and reevaluated our approach. We realized we were focusing too much on quantity over quality. We were chasing every idea instead of nurturing the right ones. We decided to: 

- Cut down on unnecessary meetings. 

- Encourage cross-team collaboration. 

- Implement regular feedback loops. 

- Create a space for failure to be an option, not a black mark. 

These changes didn’t just lift the fog of fatigue 🌫️. They transformed our culture. Innovation became a shared journey rather than an individual race. Today, I look back and see that moment as a turning point. 

It taught me a valuable lesson: Innovation is about more than just new ideas. It's about creating an environment where those ideas can thrive. How do you cultivate that environment in your organization? Let us know down below or on LinkedIn.