Innovation doesn’t just happen—it’s inspired. And one of the most powerful tools you have to inspire innovation within your team is storytelling – what was hard when the breakthroughs arose, and why you decided to embark on this path to begin with. A well-told story can spark creativity, motivate action, and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

When you tell a story that inspires innovation, you’re not just sharing an idea—you’re planting a seed that can grow into something truly groundbreaking. Your task is to tap into what will inspire your audience (not just what inspires you) to get on board and run with the idea.

Have You Ever Dealt With This?: If you’re finding it difficult to get your team excited about new ideas, storytelling could be the key to unlocking their creative potential.

Pro Tip: Here’s how to craft a story that inspires innovation within your organization:

  1. Start with a Big Idea: Begin your story with a bold, visionary idea that captures your team’s imagination. This could be a challenge to the status quo, a new way of thinking, or an ambitious goal that seems just out of reach. Remember that the status quo, e.g., doing nothing, is not only a bad idea, it will cause us to lose.
  2. Show the Path to Innovation: Outline the journey your team will take to bring this idea to life. Don’t sugarcoat the challenges they’ll face and how they’ll need to think creatively to overcome them. This creates a sense of adventure and possibility. And no hero’s journey exists without obstacles.

Art credit Jean Storlie & Mimi Sherlock

  1. Use “Breadcrumbing” to Highlight Past Innovations: Share stories of past innovations that started with a similar bold idea and drop breadcrumbs to the present-day opportunity. Show how these successes are borne of shifts in mindsets, budgets, technologies, and bold actions that have shaped the organization and how the current idea could do the same.
  2. Sharing is Critical: Invite your team to contribute their own ideas and perspectives to the story. It’s critical for the story to be credible and then retold. In fact, listener-generated content is 50% more trusted, 35% more memorable, and 20% more influential by millennials. When people feel like they have a stake in the innovation process, they’re more likely to be engaged and motivated.

By telling a story that inspires innovation, you can create a culture where new ideas are not only welcomed but actively pursued.