Lack of Innovation Isn’t a People Problem

Bringing new ideas to life at work shouldn’t feel like pushing a boulder uphill. But too often, it does.Leaders say they want innovation. Teams try to deliver it. But without the right conditions, innovation at work stalls. Mismatched expectations, siloed communication, and rigid structures can quietly kill momentum before anything new has a chance to take hold.In this episode of Let’s Talk, People, Emily is joined by Jessica Begley, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Very, a fully distributed IoT company, who has cracked the code on turning bold thinking into real execution, to unpack what innovation really looks like day-to-day, and how leaders can create the right environment for new ideas to gain traction. They explore how to pitch ideas, get buy-in from leadership, and build a team culture where experimentation and accountability can coexist.Whether you’re trying to lead change, drive innovation at work, or simply make your ideas stick, this episode offers practical leadership strategies to influence up, reduce friction, and make meaningful progress.Timestamps: [00:04:42] Creating the conditions for innovation – Emily and Jessica discuss why so many good ideas stall in organizations, and how leaders can create the right environment for innovation by fostering psychological safety and beginning with the end in mind.[00:14:10] Getting leadership buy-in – The conversation turns to influencing up, including how to pitch ideas in a way that aligns with executive priorities and how to clarify what “innovation” actually means to different stakeholders.[00:23:37] Balancing execution and experimentation – Jessica shares how to build systems that allow teams to move fast while still making space for experimentation, and how to operationalize innovation without burning people out.[00:33:58] Leading change from the middle – The episode closes with insights on the unique role that people leaders can play in leading change from inside the system. Access the episode transcript.Join the Conversation: This year we’re taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we’ll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let’s Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to [email protected] with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group’s website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let’s Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show.Thanks for listening to Let’s Talk, People!