Staying innovative can feel challenging when you’ve been in your corporate role for several years. Maybe you know your company’s processes inside out, or you’ve grown comfortable in your area of expertise. Yet, the ability to keep generating fresh ideas and approaches is key to long-term success—and to breaking through to new career heights. Let’s explore how you can harness your experience, connect with others, and keep your spark for innovation alive, no matter how long you’ve been in your role.
Why Innovation Matters at Every Career Stage
Innovation is everyone’s job. It isn’t just for newcomers or those on the cutting edge of technology. A landmark study by McKinsey found that companies with a strong innovation culture outperform their peers in growth and profitability. Maintaining an innovative mindset helps you stand out, adapt to changes, and open doors for advancement. It’s also a powerful way to demonstrate ongoing value to your organization, positioning yourself as a forward-thinking leader. And in the age of AI, you must brand yourself as a leader who uses AI as a thought partner.
Leveraging Your Experience for Creative Solutions
Your years of experience aren’t just a badge of honor—they’re a springboard for creativity. You’ve seen what works (and what doesn’t), which means you can spot opportunities for improvement or suggest tweaks that others might overlook. Consider how your deep institutional knowledge could help streamline processes, mentor colleagues, or spearhead new initiatives. Quite often, the best innovations come from those who truly understand the landscape and can build on what’s already there in unexpected ways. It’s important to keep in mind that innovation can mean adding a new twist to an already existing process, product or service and not necessarily creating something from scratch. Learning to use AI as your co-pilot will help you lead in the age of automation.
Seeking Feedback and Building a Network of Allies
Innovation thrives on different perspectives. Invite input on your ideas and seek out feedback from colleagues at all levels—not just your immediate team. Demonstrating openness not only strengthens your relationships but can also reveal blind spots and inspire new approaches. Building a network of allies, including mentors and sponsors, is especially powerful.
Embracing Different Perspectives
One of the most effective ways to spark innovation is by seeking out voices and viewpoints different from your own. Make it a habit to include team members from various backgrounds in your projects, or to reach out to new colleagues for input. That openness helps generate more creative solutions and brings to the table a concert of opinions that you might have overlooked otherwise.
Practical Strategies to Spark Innovation
- Schedule “Curiosity Time”: Block off time in your calendar to explore new trends, read industry articles, or brainstorm creative ideas outside your usual scope of work.
- Join Cross-Functional Projects: Volunteer for teams that bring together different departments. Exposure to new challenges and colleagues can reignite your creative thinking.
- Attend Workshops and Conferences: Invest in professional development that stretches your skills. Even online events can offer new tools and inspiration. The key here is to seek topics and fields that are outside your usual remit in order for you to expand your thinking and the types of ideas and solutions you bring to your team.
- Practice the Red Shoe Movement’s Mutual Mentoring approach: Share your wisdom with others by inviting colleagues with different levels of experience and background to teach to you and learn from you all sorts of topics, skills and points of view. It’s the perfect way to continue to grow and to surprise yourself and others.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge incremental improvements and creative problem-solving. Recognizing progress keeps innovation rewarding and sustainable.
Your Next Steps for Career Advancement
Innovation is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. By tapping into your experience, seeking out feedback and new viewpoints, and taking practical steps to foster creativity, you can keep your career moving forward—no matter how long you’ve been in your role. Stay curious, take advantage of all AI has to offer, and remember: your unique perspective and initiative are key assets in shaping a vibrant, innovative workplace. The next big idea could be yours.
If you’re interested in strengthening these and other power skills, join our Step Up Program!
