Bringing and supporting new ideas is one of the characteristics of innovation leadership style. Leaders are everywhere in organizations but not all are innovative. In today’s business world, innovative leaders are always sorted for. This article discusses certain innovative leadership styles and training.
If you want to learn how to become an innovative leader in your organization or team, then this article is for you.
What is Innovation Leadership?
Innovation leadership is the ability of a leader to support innovative ideas within his team. However, to be a great leader, you must have innovative ideas to move your team forward. In every organization, only innovative leaders get to the top management.
Furthermore, innovation in leadership is what brings about growth in any organization. Every top management prefers to employ people with innovative ideas. However, not everyone is innovative in an organization. Also, innovation is not planned but should be encouraged.
In addition, a leadership style that has innovation means that he is unique. They do things differently, they are separated from the crowd. A leader is innovative when he/she comes up with fresh ideas to foster the growth of the company.
What Is Meant by Leadership Innovation?
The term “innovative leadership” refers to a specific approach to management that emphasizes the use of original thought and creative problem solving when dealing with employees and external projects. Leaders who are themselves creative and original often motivate their teams to work harder by taking unorthodox approaches.
Innovation Leadership Style
The innovation leadership style combines different leadership styles to influence subordinates to create products and services. This style involves leaders being innovative in idea generation. Also, it helps in the different product life cycles.
However, without an innovative leadership style, it is hard for organizations to survive in changing marketplace.
Before understanding what is innovation leadership styles, let’s discuss briefly what is innovation strategy.
What Are 3 E’s of Effective Innovation Leadership?
Our findings indicate that businesses that prioritize efficiency, evolution, and employee empowerment will fare better in trying economic times.
What Are the 8 S’s of Innovation?
Aspire, Choose, Discover, Evolve, Accelerate, Scale, Extend, and Mobilize were found to be essential to innovation success. The authors argue that these essential elements are strongly correlated with innovation success.
Innovation Strategy
An innovation strategy is a commitment to a vision and set of activities designed to aid the future growth of an organization. Also, it is a strategy to grow market share through product and service innovation.
Furthermore, no two innovative strategies are the same. However, they all outline the goal of an organization’s innovation activities. Also, define the key initiatives that will help it achieve that goal.
Additionally, strategy is about making choices between several possible options to have the best chance at “winning”. However, innovation is just one of the ways to achieve your strategic goals.
Now that you have a clue about what is innovation strategy. However, let’s see ways of practicing innovative leadership styles.
Being Innovation Leadership Style
Innovation leadership starts from within an individual. All the great innovative leaders always believe in themselves and their abilities. However, they are aware of the type of energy they bring to a certain place. Also, are aware of how those energies affect those around them.
Leaders that have innovative leadership style knows how to manage their ego and have exceptional judgment. Also, they plan well and adapt when new information comes to light.
However, let’s discuss certain important innovation leadership characteristics.
Innovation Leadership Characteristics
Here are some of the characteristics of the innovation leadership style.
#1. Openness
Innovation leaders are open to new ideas. Also, they encourage team members that come up with new ideas. However, this openness to new ideas helps in the growth of the organization’s products and services.
#2. Risk tolerance
Innovation is similar to creativity. However, where there is creativity, there is a high chance of risk. An innovation leader is a high-risk taker. Also, he has the strange ability to examine all possible eventualities to make well-calculated risks that often pay off.
#3. Domain expertise
Innovation leaders are generally needed in technology-oriented industries that grow rapidly. However, they must have the expertise to communicate well with their team. Also, they must present a unified vision for everyone.
#4. Confidence
Every innovation leaders are confident in themselves and their team members. However, this confidence will have an impact on the organization and its idea generation.
#5. Low anxiety
Leaders who are anxious about everything and the decision they make cannot do well in an innovative environment. However, innovation leaders have very low anxiety. Nevertheless, anxiety is contagious and can reflect on the team members.
#6. Action-oriented
Effective innovation leaders are action-oriented. They do not just talk; they take action. They believe action speaks louder than words.
Who Identified 10 Characteristics of Innovative Leader?
According to studies conducted by US-based leadership development consultants Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, there are ten key traits shared by highly creative leaders. Foremost among these leaders: Exhibit sharp strategic foresight. The most successful innovators were able to paint a vivid picture of the future.
Innovation Leadership Training
There are various training institutes on innovation leadership. However, these training institutes are not in any form of ranking.
#1. Board of Innovation
This leadership program is an intensive course to develop the capabilities to steer an organization through times of disruption and uncertainty. However, the entire program can be tailored to your organization’s talent management strategy.
#2. Innovation Point
They are a boutique innovation consulting firm focused on the practice of Strategic Innovation. However, these Programs deliver collaborative 1-2 day programs for high-potential leaders and executives. Also, for people that combine breakthrough innovation and change strategies with practical tools for making them real.
#3. EDX
They teach what it takes to become an innovation leader in the 21st Century. However, their instructor is his former Medtronic Chair & CEO Professor Bill George. Also, he teaches the concepts, tools, and practical tips needed for innovative leadership.
#4. Centre For Creative Leadership
This innovative leadership training is best for employees at all levels in the organization. However, it can be done online or in person. The duration for online is 2 half days while 1 full day for in person. Also, the class size is a 1:4 coach to participant ratio.
#5. Design Leadership and Innovation
This leadership training is best for senior executives and managers, team leaders in the organization. However, the duration for 2days is 9 am to 5 pm. Also, the next course starts on 1st July 2021.
Innovation Leadership Skills
The skills of an innovative leader include:
#1. Protecting the Team
An innovative leader protects his team from the pressure of reprimand for acting too bold. Also, he protects them from external interference and distractions to keep the team in the learning zone.
#2. Exploring New Ideas
He is someone who can support his teams to carry out new ideas rather than incremental or safe solutions.
#3. Knows When to Inquire Versus Advocate
An innovative leader Knows when to shift from pushing the team for more information. He also knows when to advocate for a certain idea to move the project forward
#4. Being One Step Ahead
He is always one step ahead to help the team identify and overcome potential problems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an innovative leadership style is one of the crucial leadership styles in any organization. Moreover, no business or organization can thrive without innovation.
FAQs On Innovation Leadership
What is meant by innovative leadership?
Innovation leadership is the ability of a leader to support innovative ideas within his team. However, to be a great leader, you must have innovative ideas to move your team forward. In every organization, only innovative leaders get to the top management.
Why is innovation important in leadership?
This innovative leadership training is best for employees at all levels in the organization. However, it can be done online or in person. The duration for online is 2 half days while 1 full day for in person. Also, the class size is a 1:4 coach to participant ratio.
- INNOVATION STRATEGY IN BUSINESS WITH DETAILED EXAMPLE
- Leadership Team: Developing an Effective Workforce
- INNOVATIVE BUSINESS IDEAS: (+ 5 quick tips)
- DECISION-MAKING STYLES: Understanding the 4 Decision Making Styles for Leader
- DECISION-MAKING STYLES: Understanding the 4 Decision Making Styles for Leaders
