Every year, government innovation changes due to many diverse and nuanced external factors. In 2022, we saw the rise of remote work coupled with various cybersecurity challenges. In 2023, those external factors may evolve and take on a shape unfamiliar to the federal government. To keep pace with the continuously evolving world, innovation and modernization are a necessity.
While change can be unsettling for government entities, there’s no need to scramble for answers. Fortunately, there are many contractors agency leaders can call on that specialize in accelerating innovation and transforming processes.
In 2021, Arlo Solutions developed an agile and innovative solution called the Fast Track ATO (Authority to Operate), a process that reduces the timeline for authorizing purchases and strengthens overall cybersecurity. The Fast Track ATO process can be used by multiple government agencies to shift cultural mindsets surrounding the timeliness of technology acquisitions.
Addressing issues and implementing repeatable processes is vital for fostering change. While large-scale innovation often takes time and collaboration between agencies, there’s a handful of measures agencies can implement on a regular basis that can produce sizable results. Here are 14 tips for government leaders to promote innovation from within:
Change the Culture
In the federal world, innovation can be confronted with a bit of pushback because the culture doesn’t foster the best environment for growth. A way around this is to act small but think big. An immediate, significant change is difficult to process. Government leaders must granularize their ideas to be digestible, measurable, and tangible so their larger vision can materialize and come to life.
Identify and Define the Right Problem
When someone understands your pain point, you feel a sense of relief. That’s what government leaders need to do. Companies that answer too many requests for proposals (RFPs) can seem overly sales-y and aren’t truly honing in on the government’s specific needs. In summation, start with a set of problems, rank those problems, and determine the most plausible paths to resolution based on what you do best.
Seek Executive Buy-In
Occasionally, people need proof that someone they trust, or respect believes in a new idea. Like how seeing the blue checkmark validates a statement online. Having that stamp of approval and securing executive buy-in from top managers can help government leaders make incremental progress in the innovation process.
Implement Tools and Processes to Solve Identified Problems
What’s a solution without a game plan? In addition to identifying real and pressing issues, government leaders must show tangible results to their solutions with technology, tools, resources, and processes. Conducting rigorous testing and developing simple prototypes (even on a small scale) will strengthen the case of government leaders at this stage, giving the agency something palpable as opposed to having theoretical conversations.
Bring the Right Solutions to the Table
After understanding and presenting your solution and the steps for success, it’s time to bring this idea to fruition by sourcing and interviewing tech solutions and providers.
By now, government leaders should have conducted solid market research and can network with industry leaders to find the tech match. It’s critical to be thorough in this process to ensure a chosen partner best meets the organization’s needs.
Accept Competing Ideas
Just as thorough as government leaders must be to promote and implement innovation, government agencies must also listen and consider competing ideas. This shouldn’t hinder your progress, but it’s an important step to understanding the entire landscape.
Market the Value of the Project, Not the Program
A good salesperson isn’t successful because they share all the gadgets and gizmos of their offerings. They’re successful because they address the problem and provide a solution with their offering. Government leaders must focus on the benefits for users and rally consensus.
Give Employees Opportunities
Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor was it built alone. If government leaders are genuinely passionate about promoting innovation, giving employees opportunities to improve their skills can build an environment that allows innovation to flourish. By doing so, leaders can help employees more effectively achieve their objectives and expand into new areas, thus increasing loyalty and improving engagement.
Include Employees in Decisions that Impact Their Work
Similarly, including employees in decisions that impact their work makes them feel heard, which in turn, makes them care more about their job duties and the overall mission of the organization. If team members feel a sense of personal empowerment, new thinking and innovation are more likely to transpire.
Boost Employee Motivation
It’s important to make employees feel valued. Government leaders can support innovation by rewarding employees for their hard work. Of course, in the government world, this can be harder to do than in the business world. But by showing individuals how their ideas impact the agency mission and providing nonfinancial recognition, leaders can boost motivation and encourage employees to think outside the box.
Work to Gain the Respect of Employee
Respect is a two-way street. When employees feel respected, they’re happier at work. Happy employees are more loyal, perform better, and are more creative. Valued employees + creativity = more innovation.
Create a Plan for Innovation to Sustain Itself
Designing and testing new ideas and implementing those ideas often function as two separate entities. Because of this distinction, government leaders must put a plan in place for how agencies will uphold and continue to cultivate innovation across funding models and designated departments.
Accept the Possibility of Failure
The most significant and valuable lessons in life come from failed experiences. While government leaders may feel particularly passionate about certain programs, not all will succeed. That’s ok because the lessons learned from failed projects can aid in course-correcting the next big innovation.
Partner with the Private Sector
Drawing inspiration from tips #5 and #8, the best work is always done as a team. Government leaders can significantly impact their agency by collaborating with the private sector and industry experts. Seeking external support can help agencies focus on the bigger picture, keep an open mind to what’s possible, and achieve greatness.
Promoting innovation and creating an environment for innovation to thrive doesn’t have to be an arduous undertaking. Approaching your network and simply striking up conversations with others who have been successful is the best way to get started. People are usually happy to help and have likely experienced the same challenges or know of someone who has. One conversation can propel government leaders in the right direction toward innovation.