7 Aspects Of Effective Innovation Leadership

What is Innovation Leadership?

Innovation leadership represents a management style that encourages adaptability and flexibility in an organization. Most importantly, it involves promoting innovation by empowering employees to generate ideas and solutions.

1. Company-wide buy-ins

Innovation is often relegated to a few select departments and individuals, who then struggle to get the rest of the organization's buy-in. However, innovators can inspire each other, which is why it is key to get company-wide buy-in from the start. A culture of openness and trust is fundamental to encouraging innovative thinking, as well as ensuring everyone feels invested in the process.

At Swiss construction company, Implenia, company-wide buy-in in their innovation program has lead to phenomenal results. Using KICKBOX Intrapreneurship, Implenia engaged their top management, and as a result managed to engage their entire workforce as well. regardless of their role and position, to take part in the innovation program. In their first year, they had as many as 30 ideas submitted from participating intrapreneurs.

2. Active collaboration

It’s one thing to acquire a company-wide buy-in but as part of innovation leadership there should also be a focus on encouraging teamwork. In fact, 40% of employees globally complain about a lack of communication and collaboration in their workplace. 

Tools like KICKBOX Intrapreneurship are particularly useful to encourage collaboration. The program combines a physical innovation toolkit with cloud-based and data-driven software to facilitate innovation and encourage cross-collaboration across all teams. 

3. Tolerating risk

If people fear failure – or the rejection of one of their ideas – they are likely to not submit any ideas at all. Yet, research shows that approximately 95% of new product innovations fail. Therefore, it is vital as an innovation leader to create a culture of psychological safety, where innovation can thrive and setbacks are normalized.

It is a mindset shift that enables employees to present ideas without fear of consequences.By embracing failures as an integral part of the innovation process, leaders can evaluate and manage setbacks, motivating innovators to learn from these experiences.

4. Promoting curiosity

In many aspects of life, the words ‘what if’ are seen in a negative context regarding the potential problems that could be encountered. However, focusing on ‘what if’ as a catalyst for curiosity and problem-solving can be the key to innovation in business.

Necessity is the mother of invention, but it only works if people have the confidence to ask ‘how’ an issue can be resolved. Swisscom’s Help2Type was born from asking ‘what if there was a more accessible solution for visually impaired users?’ Without that curiosity, projects simply cannot get off the ground. 

5. Championing innovators

Intrapreneurs are essentially entrepreneurs within a company. As an innovation leader, championing intrapreneurship can be helpful to ensure innovation prospers. This is because employees have the best understanding of products, services, and customers, which should result in greater success in the context of innovation.

Intrapreneurs help to improve the bottom-line for companies. Notably, intrapreneurship can encourage creativity and innovation from other departments, as well as future recruits. This can effectively lead to a scenario where innovation becomes nearly self-sustaining.

6. Innovation as a culture

For innovation to truly succeed, it must be a continuous process rather than something that can be turned on and off or scheduled for specific times. Innovation should fostered by making it a part of everyday operations, giving employees the freedom to innovate when creativity strikes and truly nurturing an innovation culture.

In addition to the right mindset, it’s vital to build a healthy work environment. People won’t innovate when they are stressed or overwhelmed by excessive workloads, unrealistic deadlines, or a lack of support from their peers and supervisors.

When employees feel secure and supported, they are more likely to take creative risks and contribute innovative ideas, leading to a more dynamic and forward-thinking organization.

7. Leading by example

For employees to fully embrace innovation, it is crucial for leadership to 'lead by example' by actively participating in the innovative process or demonstrating complete support for company-wide innovation by taking action.

This could mean introducing innovation management programs or intrapreneurship programs, or simply having the courage to take risks. 

Although effective innovation leadership encompasses various elements, fostering a culture of innovation is paramount. By embracing these seven traits, businesses can equip themselves to navigate obstacles and accomplish remarkable outcomes.