You're stuck in a traditional business setting. How can you convince others of the value of innovation?

Convincing others of the value of innovation in a traditional business requires a strategic approach. Start by demonstrating how innovation directly enhances efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Use real-world case studies and competitor success stories to illustrate potential gains. Address concerns by showing low-risk, high-reward opportunities, such as incremental improvements before major shifts. Engage key stakeholders through pilot projects that provide measurable results. Foster a culture of curiosity by encouraging small, team-driven experiments. Lastly, align innovation efforts with business goals to prove its necessity, ensuring leadership sees it as an essential driver of long-term success.

I completely agree with using real-world examples to demonstrate the value of innovation, as it helps make the concept tangible and relatable. That said, we both understand that change can’t happen overnight. But by introducing a few innovative approaches, we can start to see positive impacts on the team and business. Think about how something as simple as wearing a new shirt can give you a little pep in your step—it's a small change, but it can shift your mindset and energy. The same could be true for your team, where even small, thoughtful innovations could have a big impact on overall business performance.

This is an interesting one. I’ve always found that introducing innovating ideas can be challenging in an environment that aren’t receptive to it, so you’ll have to tread carefully show empathy, and be tactical on where you introduce things. For me working on a side project within the business as an example where you can introduce new innovative ideas, and demonstrate the benefits without completely impacting those less willing. This way you can show them there are better ways of working.

This is by far the most effective way to demonstrate value of innovation. Alongside sharing data, provide real life examples. If you can enable people to make an emotional connection to what you are trying to say, you have already won

Showcasing clear, tangible benefits can unite your team under a shared purpose. When you describe how a new policy, product, or strategy will positively impact everyone, you foster a sense of excitement. From my own experience, I once introduced a flexible work policy that improved morale and reduced burnout. Seeing people recharge and return with fresh ideas reinforced our collective belief in work-life balance. Beyond morale, highlighting benefits helps stakeholders—whether clients or investors—understand how proposed changes align with their goals. Transparent communication of these gains not only saves time but also reduces friction, laying the groundwork for smoother implementations.

The most effective way to convince others of its value is to showcase real outcomes. I’ve worked with companies that transformed century-long visions into tangible roadmaps, built ecosystems that accelerated disruptive technologies, and turned skeptics into industry leaders. Share case studies that highlight measurable wins: reduced time-to-market, successful partnerships, or breakthrough technologies. When you connect innovation to clear business impact, resistance fades, and momentum builds.

Success stories serve as inspiration and proof of concept, illustrating that goals are achievable and that challenges can be overcome. They illuminate the journey from initial struggle to eventual triumph, offering lessons on perseverance, strategy, and teamwork. When told thoughtfully, they also tap into emotional resonance, helping others envision a brighter future for their own efforts. Consider sharing stories across departments or even inviting clients to recount their positive experiences with your product or service. This fosters mutual respect, keeps everyone motivated, and establishes your team or organization as a place where real, meaningful progress happens—and is celebrated.

Convincing others of innovation’s value in a traditional business setting requires data-driven impact, process optimization, and clear communication. Here’s my approach: 1️⃣ Start with Data – Showing how automation saves hundreds of hours (like my Shopify-QuickBooks integration, which cut processing time by 99%) makes innovation tangible. 2️⃣ Solve a Pain Point – Addressing inefficiencies, like procurement tracking, proves automation isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. 3️⃣ Show Small Wins – Quick, measurable improvements build confidence. 4️⃣ Collaborate Across Teams – Breaking silos makes innovation a company-wide improvement. 5️⃣ Speak Leadership’s Language – Framing change in terms of cost savings and revenue growth secures buy-in.

Collaboration thrives on shared goals, open communication, and mutual support. In my experience, launching a cross-functional task force provided breakthroughs we couldn’t have achieved alone: marketing pros contributed customer insights, engineers offered feasibility checks, and sales teams flagged real-time client feedback. The resulting synergy sparked innovative ideas and faster solutions. Effective collaboration also reduces duplication of effort, freeing up time and resources for new ventures. By actively promoting joint brainstorming sessions, establishing transparent processes, and celebrating group wins, you create a culture where collaboration is seen not as a chore, but as a powerful catalyst for success.

Assurance is achieved by creating trust and comfort. The traditional business setting thrives on the comfort of its systems and governance. Introducing innovative approaches within the context of these systems is key to making them palatable and comfortable. For example, if the proposed innovation is the purchasing of a new software, framing the funding request within the templates, forms, and processes the approvers are used to seeing can be a way to break down barriers and build that comfort and trust.