Engagement Technique: Innovation Challenge

Every so often, it’s worth stepping back from the day-to-day and asking: what’s the big idea that could change everything for us?

That’s what an Innovation Challenge is about. Giving people the space to think bigger than their inbox, and imagine something game-changing.

The beauty of this exercise is in the mix. Instead of running it within departments, you bring people together across the business. One person per team, minimum four in a group (adjust accordingly for smaller companies – pairs, maybe?), because when Marketing, Finance, Ops and Tech are in the same room, you start to hear ideas you’d never get otherwise.

To keep it fun but focused, set a few ground rules. firstly:

What’s the Purpose of the Challenge

• Think of something that could make the company £1 million.

• Or something that brings your core values to life in a new way.

• Or something that would push engagement scores to 100.

What usually happens is people start bouncing off each other’s perspectives. Finance grounds Marketing’s wild idea. Ops pushes Tech to simplify. Someone from HR spots the people impact. And suddenly, you’ve got an idea that’s both imaginative and practical.

The energy in these sessions is infectious. People who rarely work together suddenly see themselves as part of the same story.

The idea is this team have to then present their idea on a selected date, to a panel – ideally senior leadership – from each department. The panel judge, getting them involved, and award a winner.

Prize?

That one, that’s up to you. Monetary reward always works, vouchers, or tickets to an event/experience related to innovation too.. but maybe if you’re bold enough say that the winner gets their idea put on the roadmap!

This challenge is both a 1) team building exercise and 2) company wide event checked in, and c) might actually help you uncover an idea that hasn’t been done before.

It’s a reminder that innovation isn’t the preserve of senior leadership or an “innovation team.” Given the right space and encouragement, everyone in the company can contribute.

This post is part of our Engagement Techniques series of practical, low-cost ideas to bring more connection and meaning into work. Find the rest here

👉 Want to explore techniques like this in more depth? I run interactive employee engagement workshops where we bring these ideas to life.