​Innovative is about creativity but doesn't stop at inventive ideas. Real innovation requires hard work to make something happen. Let's explore the meaning of being innovative.

Refuse Medirocray. Innovation starts when you refuse to accept the status quo and constantly ask, "Is there a better way to do this?" You will find a new approach when you want to improve and become the best in your fields. 

Remain Detail-Oriented. You have to put your hands down on the details to get the work done. ​It's from the essence of craftsmanship, where skilled artists demonstrate when they create something. Remember "Real artists ship." ​(Steve Job)

Manage Time. Innovation requires much time because we are generally occupied with escalations. The pressure of time and resources restrictions causes less time to think. It's easier and uncontroversial to fall back on the convent approach and plan. 
Innovation is challenging but rewarding. Prioritize your work and build something you dream of. 
>> What was the last time when you had to innovate at work? What did you do to make it successful? 

Leading a project team requires project managers to have the ability to read the room, know what idea to pitch, when to deliver the message, and how to say it so that the message can be well received. Several tips on how to handle this situation. 

Is the team ready for the ask? Things happen when we take the opportunity at the right time. This means the stakeholders (customer, team, management, partners) are willing or incentivized to accept the requests, have the bandwidth (time and energy) to follow0up, and can be convinced that the ask can lead to successful results.

Do you have the support? New ideas will have an impact on the ecosystem surrounding the project team. Proper assessments are required of the effect. You can analyze the tone of the discussion and the meaning of people's comments. Who will be impacted, and will they support the change? If not, what they will do or react to these Changs. Hold back your ideas until you fully understand the situation.

Do we have better options? The organization has a narrow focus. You need to find out and align your idea with the direction. Otherwise, friction happens, and you will have to compete for resources and attention. 

An idea can't be adopted if they are not brought out at the right moment. So be patient and flexible. Read the "room" to sense the moment. ​​

Interview Question: Tell me you successfully pushed a new idea to your organization one time. How did you make it happen? ​ The answer requires a deep understanding of the impact of your proposal and analysis of the situation with timing consideration, evaluation of the organization's current status/focus, the market condition, people's attitude, etc. 

To build a successful career, expect to experience the wave. You will have up and downs all the time. Keep motivating yourself and your team to help us achieve our goal. I'd like to share a few motivation tips that you can use to boost your energy. 

Make Realistic Goals 
To achieve something, we have to start by setting the proper goals, which means we have to clearly know why we are doing it and define the goal to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. A successful project start from a good plan. 

Take Your Time 
To be motivated means don't be stressed out by taking your time. Taking easy on what we plan to do is the best motivation we can have every day. 

Share the Goal
We can share our goal to make us feel accountable and thus feel motivated, especially when we share with someone we care about or in public. 

Picture the Success
Whether you read this for yourself or mentoring your team, the concept is consistent and straightforward. One way to motivate you or your team to overcome is to picture the success down the road. Imagine how organized the team will run after the new process is established. The contented feel when others listen to your suggestions more because you are the expert in your area. You take a vacation when you can balance your life and work well. The picture in mind, the desired result helps us overcome obstacles and work hard toward our goals. ​

Build a Support System
Surround yourself with positive attributes and support your idea or have the same goal. The support and influence help you stay on track. ​

Reward Yourself 
Rewards enforce your new habits or achievement. Take a moment to celebrate that you did something constantly. 

In summary, motivation can come from both within and outside. The goal is to set up an environment to keep pumping positive energy to reach our objectives. ​