The ability to innovate and change readiness have become crucial for long-term competitiveness in today’s dynamic world. This review explores the relationship between readiness for change and innovative work behaviour (IWB). Based on the analysis of 62 empirical and peer-reviewed articles, the study postulates that employees who demonstrate higher levels of readiness for change tend to exhibit IWBs. The findings suggest that employees who consider change essential, beneficial, and supported by leaders become more motivated to introduce new ideas into the organisation. Employee readiness acts as an important psychological and organisational precursor that enhances employees’ willingness to engage in creative problem-solving and innovation-oriented activities. This highlights that employees who show greater levels of change readiness and believe that change is necessary, advantageous, and supported by management are also more likely to engage in idea generation, idea promotion, and idea implementation within the workplace, ultimately contributing to organisational performance and competitiveness. The study provides practical implications for managers seeking to strengthen organisational adaptability and innovative behaviour by fostering greater readiness for change among employees.