With IBM’s announcement that they’ve discovered an innovative way to stack memory and processor chips, it looks like us computer speed addicts may be attaining a whole new level of ecstasy in the not too distant future.

I have loved watching innovation expand in the computing industry. When I think about it, it’s been quite the morph from my Mac 512K enhanced—which didn’t even have a hard drive—to my latest computer, which I refer to as whizbang greased lightening in a box. 

The computing industry thrives on innovation. It seems that every year or so Intel announces it’s found a way to make faster processors. And now by stacking memory and processor chips, IBM has shortened by 1,000 times the distance data must travel.

By the way, stacking also opens the door—or should I say ‘doors’—for more data pathways. According to IBM, up to 100 times more connection points can be created for data to flow though if chips are stacked.  (I think we’ll all be amazed when that kind of speed becomes ‘normal.’)

These innovations result by letting people experiment with new ideas. Creativity is essential for workplace excellence. Think about it: If we treat employees like robots or cogs in our system of gears, nothing improves. No innovation occurs, and we actually fall behind as innovations move other organizations forward.

So here’s my challenge: What can you do to open the doors wider for employee creativity? I’m not advocating a wild free-for-all, but everyone benefits when employee creativity is encouraged.

And while opening the doors to creativity doesn’t have to involve investing huge portions of your budget, whatever you invest usually gets a return. You might even look into the American Competitiveness Initiative, which calls for $136 billion to be spent over 10 years to strengthen education, entrepreneurship, R&D, and innovation.

Idea: Challenge your employees to creatively find a way to tap into that!

The bottom line is that after 18 years consulting and training, I’ve observed that companies encouraging innovation and creativity thrive, and those that don’t merely survive. If you’re stuck, feel free to call me and I’ll brainstorm with you. (No charge!) 

PS. – If you have a cool way you’ve encouraged innovation at your workplace, feel free to click the comments section and tell us about it.

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Filed in Technology, Work, Business, Opinion, Motivation, Management, Leadership, Teambuilding, Workplace