Find your innovation rhythm

“We don’t have time for innovation.”

I hear this a lot. And I understand!

Deadlines. Targets. Endless to do lists.

Innovation can feel like a luxury for when things quiet down.

But the truth is: innovation rarely happens when there’s enough time.

It happens because there isn’t.

The pressure of constraints - tight budgets, limited time, changing priorities - forces teams to think differently.

Necessity is the mother of invention, after all. Or, as filmmaker Orson Welles put it:

"If you give somebody constraints, it's easier to be creative."

But for many teams, innovation feels like an indulgence - something “extra” to fit in after the real work.

So how do you make space for innovative thinking when time already feels scarce?

Establishing an Innovation Rhythm

First, recognise that innovation is all about small, regular steps.

Yes, innovation can mean big global shifts, but innovation also comes in smaller doses, too.

Start by establishing your own Innovation Rhythm - the pace at which you set aside time and space to get out of your head, think differently, and discuss new ideas.

Tiny amounts of time, repeated regularly, make a bigger impact than sporadic “innovation days.” The key is consistency - and leadership support to protect that time once you’ve shown its value.

Start with just 10 minutes every week, as a team, dedicated to reflection and new ideas.

The Payoff

Once teams build a rhythm, innovation stops being an “extra project” and becomes a shared mindset - part of everyday decision-making.

You start spotting better solutions, faster. You start improving, iterating, and adapting without waiting for permission.

Need inspiration on how to fill those snippets of innovation time? Check out our Plays.