Too few businesses unlock the huge power of the human computer that works for them. Too many employees are stuck doing a job, exercising a minute amount of their brain capacity and they and their employers are missing a huge opportunity.

Why is this? Well in most companies still it is Managers who rule and workers who listen and simply do what Management says. This is folly of course because it assumes that only Management has good ideas.

Think of things another way – business is all about capturing intellect and the more people that contribute by being allowed to think and use their intellect, the more ideas are generated. To start the process a business must encourage employees to articulate their ideas.

The aim should be to let ideas and intellect rule over tradition and hierarchy. In an organisation that works this way people are given access to important information and challenged to think about new ideas and opportunities and then come up with creative solutions to problems. By moving this way your Company will get much more input from the team who will feel part of the future and the solution as their ideas are taken up and implemented.

Don’t just make it the ‘fad of the week’ either – be committed to the long-term continuation as a ‘way of life’. Being open to ideas from everywhere.

The key is to adopt the best ideas REGARDLESS of where they originate. Some tips for you:

• Spend an hour a week keeping track of what competitors are doing. Spend time on their Websites, or looking at their promotional activity or catalogues (if still issued)

• Offer a reward for the best idea. People like to be rewarded, something simple but meaningful when a great idea is provided goes a long way to encourage input

• Make your Company a Training and Learning business. Organisations that are instilling learning and encouraging input will achieve long lasting positive results.

Allowing people to develop by using their intellect should be an integral part of the Company and will develop the Company too.