GOOD LEADERSHIP PROMOTES CULTURE OF INNOVATION

Innovation involves the process of turning ideas into reality and causes an impact to the society. It springs from the creativity and brings about change by introducing new tools, products and processes.

Innovation takes place at different levels from modest improvements on an existing product or process to dramatic and even historically significant breakthroughs in how we relate to the world. In all cases, the capacity to innovate will be a function of our commitments, what we want to accomplish and our relationship with the circumstances we perceive we are in.  Innovative systems, tools and thinking are essential for organizational health and future viability.

Leadership on the other hand is about directing and mobilizing people and resources. Leaders need to be innovative for themselves, as they learn to operate in challenging, unpredictable circumstances. They also need to create a climate for innovation in their institutions. Innovative leaders identify the need for change, lead the change process and have to manage change for it to be successful.

Leaders can close the innovation gap by working simultaneously on four essential organizational enablers. Otherwise, innovation will be stifled. These enablers include; leading innovation, culture of innovation, organizational practices for innovation and the innovation plan.

To close the innovation gap, leaders must clarify what they want to achieve with innovation, and understand the specific issues that can prevent individuals and teams from innovating in their organization. An innovative leader will reveal organizational vision, give direction and develop strategies that will help the organization become more innovative.

Executive leaders also must demonstrate their strong commitment in their actions, not only in their talk. They need to make innovation a core priority for the organization and for key departments; assign credible senior people to lead the implementation; and fully resource their innovation initiatives for the long term. It is these kinds of actions that will send the clearest message that innovation is here to stay and not the latest passing trend.

Leaders throughout the organization do not have to be the most innovative individuals but they must learn innovative thinking and learn how to lead and manage innovative teams. About 70 percent of organizations identify innovation as their means to gain competitive advantage yet only 20 percent of organizations conduct any innovation training as revealed by a survey  by Claude Legrand and David Weiss in their book; The Art and Practice of Leading sustainable Innovation in Your Organization . If leaders are committed to innovation, they must give their managers and employees at every level the skills to develop and manage innovative thinking skills.

Innovative and successful organizations utilize the skills and ideas from all its members and effective leadership for innovation encourages team spirit. Organizations must invest in their leaders and employees to ensure that they develop individual and teams innovative-thinking skills.

Organizations also need to design their culture and organizational practices to make innovation possible. As well, organizations require a well-developed, organization-wide innovation plan to ensure a focused approach to organizational innovation.

When innovation occurs in organizations, it becomes embedded. It also becomes an invisible competitive advantage, consistently creating new value for the organization. It is reflected in how individuals and teams think innovatively as they redefine complex issues, generate new ideas, discover solutions, and mitigate risks. The end result will be that organizations will close their innovation gaps, achieve sustainable customer value and employee engagement, and remain relevant in the future.

Leading an organization towards creativity and innovation involves setting realistic goals, having a shared sense of purpose, progress reviews and monitoring as well as learning from past experiences.

Lastly, it is important to note that innovation springs from a culture that encourages everyone to come forth with new ideas, however small, and then provides the time and resources to develop it. It comes from openness to trends and ideas within and outside the organization.