Fast Company Daily 5 reasons why innovation fails—and what to do about it
Jul 11, 2025
Innovation can stumble for a variety of reasons, and understanding these pitfalls is crucial. Leadership commitment and effective communication are vital for success. Aligning innovations with what the market truly needs can significantly enhance outcomes. Every team member, from the stockroom clerk to the senior design engineer, can contribute valuable ideas if they feel empowered. Practical strategies are explored to create a thriving innovation culture within organizations.
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Commit to Active Innovation Support
- Senior leaders must provide more than speeches to inspire innovation.
- Give employees time and resources to explore ideas, and treat failures as learning opportunities.
Allocated Time for Blue-Sky Innovation
- Stephen Hinch set 5% of work time for exploratory innovation in his tech company.
- He ensured ideas were pursued openly with management and viewed failures as learning, not penalties.
Share Vision for Innovation
- Innovation thrives when employees understand the business's mission and see their impact.
- Sharing broad company vision encourages valuable ideas from all levels, not just strategic planners.