In the last year, the focus for most businesses has been survival. Faced with dropping revenues, fewer customers and the unpleasant task of announcing layoffs, the concept of innovation has probably not even made it to the conference room white board let alone to the implementation phase.

Innovation can be scary because, at the core, it’s about taking a risk. And taking a risk during a recession can appear almost foolhardy. But when times are tough, it’s all the more reason to innovate. How else will your company stay ahead, stay fresh and stay out front – especially when the economic tide turns.

So while your business is still in survival mode, how exactly do you set aside the time to innovate.

• Recognize the importance of innovation and that without new ideas your business will be left behind. Once you make innovation as important as cultivating new clients, you’ll make it a priority.
• Create an atmosphere for innovation. Take your team off site for a brainstorming session. You don’t need a fancy overnight retreat, but maybe just an outdoor meeting at a park or over sandwiches at a local restaurant. Sometimes a change of scenery is good for sparking ideas.
• Set up an ideas board – a white board or bulletin board where employees write down quick thoughts or notes or post inspiring photos or articles.
• Take a risk. Do everything you can to jump on a good idea and make it happen. If you don’t, someone else will.

How is your company innovating? Has it been hard to innovate because of the economy or has innovation become even more critical to your business?