The gap between imagination and achievement or actualization has never been shorter. Beginning 'somewhere' is always preferable to waiting while your team weighs the options and while the organization goes bust or gets left in the dust by those competitors who are being innovative and creative in this volatile market.

For change to happen everyone needs to be involved. Partial commitment to innovation is commitment to failure. There needs to be a willingness to listen to, and act on, the change plan that comes from this innovation process.

If innovation and creativity are so important, even critical in business survival, why the gap in application and implementation? While each organization is distinct and different, there needs to be a more holistic, integrated approach to innovation and creativity as a culture. We need to get 'buy in' on all levels. Further, we need to consider some important points to increase the possibility of idea generation, which in turn drives innovation and creativity in an organization.

What can you do to facilitate this process? Here are some areas of concern in building a foundation for success under this creative and innovative initiative:

• Innovation strategy: Innovation needs to be an 'integral part' of all strategies and policies in your organization, not just 'tacked' on as a quick fix up. It needs to permeate every department, and every section. Every employee must make it a focus, in part, as they do their respective roles. For example, how much time is spent in the boardroom discussing your ongoing innovation strategy? This is where the 'rubber hits the road' and your employees see just how much you are committed to this path of action.

• Support from top management: In too many organizations ideas and innovation steps are already at risk at their inception. Poor leadership will likely look the other way. A better approach is to take the courageous step and stretch out a helping hand to buoy innovative ideas until they can be worked out and tried in the real world. Ask yourself, 'Do my managers see themselves as leaders whose role is to 'clear the way' for creativity or are they simply status quo oriented?' Your employees and colleagues are watching for your leadership in this arena.

What will your employees see when they observe your leadership?

• Collective mindsets: Whether we acknowledge it or not we each have mindsets comprised of beliefs, attitudes, and values that drive or motivate our behaviour. These collective mindsets (eg 'can't teach old dogs new tricks or 'my people aren't creative') frequently form barriers to the creative process. They need to be unlocked and unblocked. Business guru Peter Drucker once said, "defending yesterday - i.e., not innovating - is far more risky than making tomorrow." Make sure your organizational mindset is not creating an 'immune system' or anti-virus system that automatically rejects or attacks new ideas, processes or challenges to the status quo business model. This can be your largest obstacle in embedding creative approaches and applied innovation within your organization.

• Employees get tools and training: Are your staff given the tools and the on-going training they need to support a creative climate and innovation? People and training are crucial to your success, and the training needs to be ongoing and reinforced. Creativity will not magically flourish with the advent of a few courses or the provision of a 'few' creative tools to a 'few select' people. Everyone needs to be trained and supported in his or her evolution of understanding and applied learning.

• Knowledge management tools: Does your organization have an intranet that capitalizes on the strides information technology has brought to the battle for business survival? I.T. often acts as an enabler, which allows us to break the traditional barriers of function, geography and even hierarchy. This allows for internet-based sparking of ideas and a chance to engage and bring 'all' the minds or your various teams into the game. This is how you win!

• What gets measured gets done - metrics for innovation: Creativity and innovation can be measured and when this happens, they are done on a more consistent basis. If creativity is rewarded, even more! Intellectual assets can impact heavily on your market value. Consider the differential and costs between hardware and software values.

• Creation of an idea pipeline: Is there an effective innovation process or pipeline or some form of tracking system for converting ideas into innovative services or new products? Is everyone on your team committed to feeding this process or pipeline? Only systematic processes, which incorporate a blend of logical and lateral, thinking tools can bring creativity an innovation. What are you doing to ensure you prime the pump and keep this pipeline full and flowing?

• Supplier and customer mindsets: Organizations create a demand for innovative suppliers to be able to serve their clients who are demanding innovative products and services. Ask yourself, 'are your current (and potential) clients able to support a dialogue about inventing your shared future?' How about your suppliers and allied professionals? They may not even recognize the future until they see it or are made aware of its possibilities. That in part, is your job in the connection and education process of business.

There are just a few thoughts to consider as you follow your quest to increased creativity and applied innovation in your organization. The time to act is now! Innovate or evaporate in the dust of those competitors who saw the need, made the investment and took the lead. It's your choice!