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Inclusion and diversity are the missing links in any business plan, strategy, project, or course of action. And yet, neither is enough. Without inclusion and diversity, organizations do not have a productive path forward. They will be limited in their access to the market, customers, and funding for new and more innovative ideas. A meaningful enterprise that gives real value to its customers, provides a competitive edge, and invests in education and innovation will have a robust network of customer focus, collaboration, and trust. We can leverage the wisdom of our team members and seek to empower them to make an impact on each other and the larger organization, while at the same time increasing innovation and investment in high-value collaboration.

Innovation is not something we can take for granted. Yet in this fast-paced world, innovation has become a victim of its own success. Innovation is a language everyone on an organization’s business team must learn. Collaboration is foundational to innovation. When your team members don’t trust or work well together, your organization is bound to fall behind. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve invested in recruiting, training, retaining, and developing your team, if you lose focus, allow individuals to drift, or don’t align your organizational culture with the competitive context of your industry. You won’t be able to innovate unless you align yourself with the values and perceptions of your customer, create trust, and continue to make a commitment to be focused on collaborative solutions, not single focused solutions.

To maintain a competitive advantage and remain relevant, organizations must remain consistent with innovation strategy and implement new, purpose-driven initiatives as they emerge. The approach should recognize where it can lead to successes, and how it can help to close the gap between what’s possible and what’s acceptable. Inclusion and diversity are a first step toward the organization’s long-term success, but innovation should be the foundation of its success. If you can’t innovate, you’ll be left behind.