Innovative companies are collaborative companies. They find new solutions by sifting through a steady flow of fresh ideas drawn from a wide range of contributors. The best innovators understand that the next big idea could come from anyone in the organization, so they democratize innovation and invite everyone to participate.
Achieving that level of collaboration is tricky — most companies never get there. It requires giving each employee a voice, something that most organizations don’t do well. In fact, a recent survey found that 86 percent of employees feel there are groups that are underrepresented in their workplaces. That underrepresentation isn’t just pointing at diversity, it’s pointing at how well individuals are able to communicate higher up within the organization.
