In today’s fast-paced world of technological advancement, innovation is key. If you are going to lead an organization to victory in this competitive market, you need to develop your leadership skills to accommodate success. Follow other leaders in innovation like Michael Jusbasche for inspiration on setting your goals and objectives for this quarter.
Don’t Fear Failure
Don’t be afraid to fail. Fear of failure can be crippling. It prevents people with great ideas from ever bringing them to fruition. Successful innovators accept the fact that when doing something new, there will be mistakes along the way. They embrace failures as learning opportunities that can be used in a process of elimination to achieve success.
Some people call this “failing upwards.” In other words, use slip-ups as stepping stones to get you closer to reaching your goals. This is all about your mindset; it is a conscious choice, not a feeling. Make the decision to keep your mind positive and keep driving forward through adversity.
Build an Innovative Team
This may seem obvious, but to become a leader in innovation, you need to develop an innovative team to lead. A strong team includes creative individuals who enjoy thinking outside the box. They need to be willing to take risks and be able to bring their ideas to the table.
Create an open and accepting atmosphere that encourages your team to share their ideas. Don’t allow anyone’s input to be mocked by others. If people fear ridicule, they are less likely to bring share thoughts and you may miss out on opportunities for innovation. When people share their ideas, encourage the rest of the team to collaborate and add input to expand on the idea.
[azonpress template=”widget_small” asin=”1118504240″]Trust Your Employees
One of the best ways to kill creativity in your team is to be a micromanager. It is one thing to have expectations and processes for employees to follow, and of course, it is necessary to have a project plan with deadlines to keep everyone accountable. However, if you take it too far, to the extent where you expect your employees to follow rigid rules for how they complete each mundane task, their creative liberty will be squashed.
Allow your team a bit of space so they can shine. They are likely to learn new skills along the way that will make them more valuable to the company.
Give Yourself Grace
Sometimes it is easier to give allowances to others when they make mistakes than it is to do the same for ourselves. We are often our own worst critics. No matter how many years you have been in the industry, just remember that you are always growing. Becoming an innovator is a journey, not a destination.
Most people like to stay in their comfort zone. Trying new things or changing the way you currently operate can seem daunting. Innovative leaders, though, have to be willing to step outside of their comfort zones. After all, exploring new horizons and possibilities is what innovation is all about.