Big ideas get attention. But it’s strong business operations that turn those ideas into real results. People love to dream up new products. But few want to deal with the hard work it takes to build them. Most plans skip over how the work will get done. And teams like supply chain, purchasing, and manufacturing often get left out of early talks. That’s a mistake. These teams are not blockers—they are key to success.

Most ideas don’t fail because they are bad. They fail because people didn’t work together. Teams weren’t included. Leaders made guesses about what others needed. Real problems were ignored. Sometimes, leaders didn’t ask for feedback because they feared bad news. That leads to missed goals, wasted money, and frustrated people.

What’s the fix? Involve operations from the start. Hold weekly team meetings to talk through roadblocks. Make sure everyone knows who is in charge of what. Write down clear steps and check progress often. Create shared goals that reward teams for working together.

If you want to be more innovative, first ask: “How can we work better?” Good ideas need strong systems to survive. Innovation isn’t just creative—it’s practical too.