Can Innovation Really Happen from Small Teams in Companies?
New ideas are difficult to come up with—and even harder to implement—in most organisations.
Why is this?
There are a number of reasons, but let’s start with one that affects nearly everything else: culture.
The culture in many companies doesn’t support new ideas. Managers often dominate discussions. Their agenda becomes the group’s direction, and this discourages any real innovation. Employees can sense it. They’re afraid to share new ideas because they know, from experience, those ideas won’t be heard—or worse, will be co-opted or shut down.
I’ve seen this happen.
Managers hold so-called “brainstorming sessions,” but they already know what outcome they want. They steer the process. They favour certain people—sometimes even planting them in advance to propose ideas that support the manager’s goals. These people get the credit. Their ideas are celebrated, even if they aren’t necessarily the best for the organisation. For the rest of the team, it’s deflating. Innovation dies right there in the meeting room.
So how do we break this cycle?
There’s a recent academic book on the topic: Unlocking Creativity by Michael A. Roberto. It’s not exactly bedtime reading—it’s dry and academic—but it makes a powerful point. The book identifies six mindsets that block creativity in organisations.
Even if the book is a bit dense, the message is worth unpacking. Let’s try to simplify it.
The Six Mindsets That Kill Innovation
These are the six creativity-blocking mindsets Roberto identifies. Below, I’ve added a simpler explanation of each—something even a fifth grader could understand.
1. Linear Mindset
Thinking you have to follow a strict, step-by-step process. But creativity doesn’t work that way. You often have to try, fail, fix, and try again.
2. Benchmarking Mindset
Copying what others do instead of coming up with your own ideas. It’s like always trying to imitate your friend instead of making something original.
3. Prediction Mindset
Wanting to know if your idea will be a huge success right from the start. But great ideas often grow slowly—so it’s okay not to know everything upfront.
4. Structural Mindset
Sticking rigidly to job titles and roles. But sometimes the best ideas come when people work outside of their usual tasks and collaborate.
5. Focus Mindset
Trying to do too much at once and never having quiet, focused time to think. Creative work needs uninterrupted space and time.
6. Naysayer Mindset
Always saying “That won’t work” instead of building on ideas. Shooting things down too quickly kills creativity.
If these sound familiar, you’re not alone. Many companies—especially large ones—fall into these traps. But the good news is that once you name these mindsets, you can start changing them.
Because the truth is this: new ideas will eventually come through, with or without formal brainstorming sessions. Real innovation doesn’t care for corporate theatre. In a world where organisations must constantly adapt to survive, they can’t afford to shut down fresh thinking.
So yes, innovation can happen from small teams—if the environment allows it.
Otherwise, companies risk becoming echo chambers for their own outdated thinking.
And in today’s world, that’s a fast path to irrelevance.
