Motivated, excited and purpose-driven – those are the characteristics of a startup company. Now, look at your own office. If you’ve been around for a while, chances are the work environment doesn’t resemble a startup anymore. It may have become stagnant, driven more by meetings and deadlines than creativity and innovation. If you want your business to continue making a difference, emulate these aspects of startup culture.
Encourage Questions
Why is it that startups of the last decade (think Airbnb and Uber) are responsible for some of the most innovative business ideas in 100 years? It’s because they’re not afraid to ask questions, think about things differently or admit they need to go back to the drawing board.
Entrepreneurs who launch new businesses have no status quo yet, so they can’t get stuck in a rut. Keep asking questions and don’t be afraid to evolve your company. That’s the key to coming up with innovative ideas the way startups do.
Welcome Change
The old office format featured endless rows of cubicles and bosses breathing down their employees’ necks. Those days are long gone. If you want to appeal to young talent, you must be willing to change the way you do things.
Adopt an open office floor plan. Embrace telecommuting so you can hire an expert who lives on the other side of the country. Institute policies that ease communication and collaboration via social media. With the ability to change, you’ll eliminate archaic policies and procedures that hold you back.
Take Calculated Risks
Innovation doesn’t happen overnight. Remember, Thomas Edison didn’t get the light bulb right the first time around. But he famously said, “I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to not make a light bulb.”
That’s the startup mentality you need to cultivate innovation amongst your team. Just keep in mind that new ideas aren’t always good ideas. Take calculated risks when attempting to innovate, and make sure plans are rooted in sound strategies and guided by data.
Integrate and Collaborate
Most startups begin with a skeleton crew, a motivated group who wear many hats and fill one another’s roles. Once you become established, separate departments take shape. However, different teams should continue to bridge boundaries and work together. This develops more agile employees who can effectively manage their demands and inspire one another.
Remember Why You Started Your Business
Passion fades over time, especially if you feel you’re falling short of your goals. But just like Edison, you can treat “failures” as learning experiences that take you one step closer to your objective. Along the way, celebrate little victories that teams and individuals contribute to the cause. This revives everyone’s morale and keeps you headed in the right direction.
The unique values of startup companies give them a leg up in terms of innovation and creativity. John Manlove Marketing & Communications can help incorporate these qualities into your marketing efforts. To learn more, please call us today at 281-487-6767.