Small businesses thrive on innovation and the ability to act quickly on new ideas. Sometimes the best innovations come from your very own employees. It's no surprise why. Your workers are on the front line of your business — dealing directly with customers and implementing processes and procedures.

An ideal way to foster idea-generation in the workplace is to set up an effective employee suggestion program. These simple systems can improve your bottom line and increase employee motivation if you limit them to specific areas of your business, such as:

1. Cost-saving measures that benefit the bottom-line.
2. Ideas for improved or new products.
3. More efficient practices.
4. Innovative ways to create new business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Encourage submissions

To get the ideas flowing, give employees a way to submit their thoughts. Use a simple box in the lunchroom, an online submission system, an in-house voicemail box or a regular meeting designated to hear suggestions.

I recommend: FormSite.com can help you set up an online suggestion form to make it easy for employees to submit ideas. Contact your local phone provider, such as Verizon or AT&T, to see about adding a voice mail box dedicated solely to employee suggestions.

Set up a complete suggestion system

You can do it yourself, or seek outside help.

I recommend: The Center for Suggestion System Development offers solutions for setting up a suggestion system.

Review suggestions

Set up a committee to review suggestions, give feedback and reward employees who submit ideas that are implemented. This will motivate employees to engage in the program.

I recommend: Show your appreciation for employee suggestions with rewards from OCTanner.com, a leading provider of employee recognition solutions.

Track progress

An idea submitted today may not work tomorrow, but may be feasible down the road. To get the most from your employee suggestion program, track ideas and revisit them.

I recommend: Idea Tracker software allows you to keep track of who submitted the idea, when, what the idea was, cost benefits and the progress of implementing the idea.

Hold a competition

When you need fresh ideas fast, consider turning your suggestion program into an idea competition.

I recommend: Outsource your competition to Idea Crossing, a firm that will organize and manage the competition. If you prefer to manage the competition in-house, purchase the Bright Idea Campaign Kit that provides instructional CD's, a guidebook and a phone consultation to set up the program.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When forming a selection committee for your suggestion program, make sure there are representatives not only from management, but also employees from various departments who think differently, for example accounting and the art department.
• •  Set a time period when all suggestions will be evaluated, whether monthly or quarterly so ideas don't get caught in a time warp.
• •  Communicate the rewards details to motivate employees and to communicate what they will receive for a stellar idea.