Summary: On this week’s Best of Killer Innovation Series, we analyze qualities that promote strong innovation leadership and will help any organization become a trailblazer in the game.<br> <br> What are the unique skill sets needed for innovation leadership? We all have a list of what good leadership skills are but what are the unique ones you need to be a true innovation leader? Today on Killer Innovations, I will discuss what I have found to be the skills needed for successful innovation leadership.<br> Innovation Leadership Skills<br> These leadership skills apply to all organizations, whether you are a small organization or a large organization.<br> <br> * Integrity<br> <br> * You need to trust the people you are working with.<br> * You need to know they are looking out for what is in the best interests of the team and organization.<br> <br> <br> * Vision and <a href="https://killerinnovations.com/why-do-87-percent-of-companies-fail-to-execute-their-strategy-s11-ep34/">Strategy</a>.<br> <br> * Team members are looking to the leaders to communicate what the vision and strategy are.<br> * You need to look long-range beyond where the team is and roll that back in so they can see what your vision is.<br> * You need to be able to tell the story, make the pitch, and share your dream with others.<br> * Communication is critical to successful<a href="https://killerinnovations.com/succeed-leading-innovation/"> innovation</a> leadership,<br> * If you are going to be a leader, you need to be able to interact and build relationships and truly have an interest in other people’s lives.<br> * Know what is going on in your team members’ lives so you can help them eliminate distractions and get their heads in the game.<br> * You have got to persuade people to leave what they are doing now and join your team.<br> * You must be able to convince them that what are doing is something worth their time.<br> <br> <br> * Adaptability and<a href="https://killerinnovations.com/succeed-leading-innovation/"> Flexibility</a>.<br> <br> * As a leader you cannot be rigid, you must be adaptable and flexible with your team and organization.<br> * Can you operate as a leader of a team?<br> * You need diversity in your team to be successful.<br> <br> <br> * <a href="https://killerinnovations.com/7-laws-of-innovation-and-benefitting-from-coaching-insights/">Coach</a> and develop.<br> <br> * Find young and upcoming people and coach and develop them.<br> <br> <br> * Decision-Making.<br> <br> * You must be comfortable making the final decision.<br> * Realize that sometimes the decision you make is going to fail.<br> <br> <br> * Planning and organizing.<br> <br> * If you are not good at planning and organizing, then hire people to do it for your team.<br> <br> <br> <br> Basic Skill You Need<br> These are the basic skills you need to be a successful innovation leader. So, what skills do you need to do differently to truly be an innovation leader?<br> <br> * Innovation leadership involves taking risks.<br> <br> * You must be comfortable that some of the decisions you make are going to fail.<br> * Some of your decisions are going to be flipped.<br> <br> <br> * You need to keep looking for new opportunities and threats.<br> <br> * Look for threats to your organization, industry, or geography.<br> <br> <br> * Innovation is about change.<br> <br> * Stability is the death of innovation.<br> * Foster a culture where change is expected.<br> <br> <br> * Do not rest on the traditional management techniques.<br> <br> * Every situation is different.<br> * You need to invent the way you manage and do leadership.<br> <br> <br> * Be an optimist.<br> <br> * Innovation is about being an optimist.<br> * You need to convince and convey an optimistic view of the future.<br> <br> <br> * Innovators cut through the crap.<br>
