Innovation leadership - how managers strengthen the innovative power of their teams

In the midst of the fast pace of society, the agility and innovative strength of modern companies are being put to the test. Nobody knows today what trends, products and technologies will be launched on the market tomorrow. This makes it all the more important to establish a culture of innovation within the company in order to remain capable of acting. Management makes a decisive contribution to this.

The central role of leadership in innovation leadership

In innovation leadership, you act as a role model for your team. You set an example of the importance of innovation in your company and how a collective innovation mindset can be established. It can always happen that individual employees resist innovation because they prefer to rely on familiar processes. Innovation must become the new normal. In order to increase the innovative strength of the entire company, all employees must be brought on board.

How innovation leadership succeeds in your company

1. Establish an error-tolerant culture of experimentation
   In order for your employees to have the courage to try something new, they need the space to do so. Good ideas can sometimes turn out to be dead ends. If you have to be afraid of doing something wrong, you will automatically be slowed down. Give your employees the feeling that they are valued simply for their willingness to experiment. The price of innovation has always been mistakes.
   
2. Creating more freedom through shared leadership
   Shared leadership is a management style in which responsibility is distributed across several shoulders. Managers consciously take a step back and act as equals with the entire team. Individual team members show mutual appreciation and encouragement, creating new freedom to implement visions.
   
3. Recognize exhaustion in the team in good time
   Anyone who drags themselves home after work with their last ounce of strength because they are suffering from constant stress cannot be creative or innovative. Resources must remain available for innovation projects. This makes it all the more important for you as a manager to keep an eye on your team's resources and generally avoid overworking them.
   
4. Promoting decision-making skills
   Innovative strength can only arise if employees are empowered to make decisions. Anyone who has to submit written requests to order new pencils cannot develop independent decision-making skills.
   
5. Breaks as a driver of innovation
   Many creative ideas are generated during breaks - when employees can sit down together in a relaxed atmosphere in the beer garden and exchange ideas. The conversations are often not just about private matters, but also about sharing challenges and ideas that are being driven forward within the company. Instead of strict break regulations, this free space for innovation should be strengthened.
   
6. Keep an eye on your own communication
   Just one wrong comment can nip a great idea in the bud. Accept ideas in a completely neutral way at first, without dismissing them too quickly. Even if it doesn't prove successful afterwards, your employee will feel that they have been heard and will be motivated to perhaps hit the mark next time.
   
7. Keep a focus
   Innovation leadership does not mean that everyone suddenly does what they want. Even in the middle of the innovation process, clear priorities are needed that everyone can stick to together.

Would you like to establish innovation leadership in your company? Our coaches are happy to offer you their support!