“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
Creativity and innovation are the hallmarks of great civilizations, great companies, and great leaders. Entrepreneurs are a special kind of leader. They lead projects and people as all leaders do, but their special focus is on leading change through innovation. Entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney and Mary Kay Ash built thriving companies by creating products that changed the world.
Even in organizations where innovation is not a goal in its own right, leaders are required to innovate as they adapt to new situations. They must propose and then implement new ways to approach each problem. An effective leader develops new insights into situations, questions conventional approaches, and encourages new ideas and innovations.
A good way to make creativity a habit is to come up with one new idea every day, not necessarily to adopt every idea, but rather to think like an innovator.
What does it mean to be a creative & innovative leader? Can it be learned? While there is no one answer to the first question, like every habit in PerfectCoaches, it can be developed over time by identifying specific characteristics and turning these into actionable behaviors or habits. How could you practice developing new insights? By coming up with three alternative strategies for each situation or problem? By questioning conventional approaches?
Talking with your coach. Modern leaders often want to measure things, so your coach will encourage you to say once a day, or throughout the day, whether or not you have been innovative and adaptive. Here’s one measure: Did you encourage one new idea today, yours of someone else’s? Yes or No? Making the journal entry will help you clarify your thoughts about what innovation looks like in your leadership situation, especially if you are an entrepreneur. Your coach will ask questions, not expecting an answer, but rather to make you aware of cues and reinforcers that drive the habit.
Creativity is developed, not a birthright.
Read MoreIt turns out that you can teach yourself to be more innovative after all.
Read MoreRecent research by innovation consultancy Lucidity identified that lack of time is the single biggest barrier to innovation within organizations.
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