Strenghthening Innovation

Posted on March 03, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” - Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, Inc.

“Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship. The act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.” - Peter F. Drucker, Leadership guru and author

As a leader, how can you improve your ability to implement new and innovative ideas?

There are many practical behaviors and disciplines you can develop to help yourself be a more innovative eader. The following are a few ideas you may want to start playing with:

* Regularly approach conversations with the perspective that the greater wisdom is in the person you are talking to. It’s your job to uncover innovative ideas, so when in a conversation, make sure you truly listen - versus just waiting to speak next. This will keep you attuned to any nuggets of innovative wisdom that may cross your conversational path.

* Invite and reinforce the flow of feedback from others into your life and work - even if it is painful. There is one executive who never gives a first pay raise to an employee until they specifically challenge his opinion or thinking in some way.

* As you move through your day, notice moments of frustration. As you journey though your day, and something causes frustration - like you just can’t get something done, and something or somebody is impeding you - Notice it. Label the frustration, then discern the root causes of frustration. Later, when you have cooled off, put some energy into creating ideas on how this frustration can be prevented, rerouted, or positively used in the future.

* At the end of each day, review the day and ask yourself, “What good questions did I ask today - and how well did I listen?” “What specific innovative ideas did I come across?” “At what points in my day was I not attune to new truths or wisdom that may have crossed my path?” - Then write any newfound ideas down, and if appropriate, start moving forward a new direction.