A Fresh Innovation Playbook for Today's Leaders: How Everyday Leaders Can Harness Innovation to Drive Meaningful Change
Most leaders assume innovation means a big, bold disruption, a new product, a transformation programme, a moonshot. Robyn Bolton, founder and chief navigator at Mile Zero and a veteran of Procter & Gamble and Harvard, disagrees. Her definition is blunter and far more useful: something new that creates value. That is it.
I had Robyn on The High Performance Leader Podcast to dig into what that actually means for the people running teams and functions day to day. If you have ever felt that building a more innovative culture is someone else's job, or that it requires a dedicated budget and a special team, this conversation will shift your thinking.
Innovation Redefined
Robyn introduces a refreshingly accessible definition of innovation: "Something new that creates value." This simplicity is a call to action for leaders at all levels to view innovation as part of their daily operations, not just a siloed project for special teams or the R&D department.
"Something new that creates value." By broadening the definition, innovation becomes less about earth-shattering disruptive innovation and more about incremental, value-driven improvements that contribute to long-term success.
The work that Robyn does in support of organisations really meshed with our own ideas around curiosity and experimentation, which was really great. This aligns perfectly with core innovation management and corporate innovation strategies.
The Expertise Paradox in Leadership
One of the central themes we explored was the paradox of expertise in leadership roles. Leaders often rise to their positions because of their deep knowledge and problem-solving skills. However, the landscape of leadership and innovation requires them to cultivate a different set of skills, ones that prioritise questioning over answering and exploring over exploiting.
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Navigating the Shift from Expert to Facilitator
Transitioning from an expert who has all the answers to a facilitator who nurtures discovery is a challenge for many leaders, nearly 50% according to research. Robyn emphasised the need for leaders to adopt a dual mindset: operational excellence must coexist with a culture of experimentation and curiosity. This balance is crucial in environments that are rapidly changing and where staying relevant means staying adaptable.
The less you rely on certainty and expertise alone, the more likely you are to exhibit the innovative leadership strengths of high performers. Sometimes you have to "feel your way forward" versus knowing the answer, and this can be really uncomfortable, especially for those managers who like to play in the realm of certainty and expertise. Embracing principles like design thinking and open innovation can help ease this transition.
Practical Steps to Encourage Innovation
Drawing from our engaging discussion, here are a few actionable strategies for leaders eager to embed innovation into their leadership style and foster a strong innovation culture:
- Encourage Diverse Perspectives. Innovation thrives in environments where varied perspectives are welcomed. Leaders should strive to create spaces where team members feel safe to express unorthodox ideas, a key component of intrapreneurship and creativity.
- Normalise the Learning from Failure. By reframing failures as stepping stones to success, leaders can build a culture where risk-taking is not feared but encouraged as a path to discovery. This entrepreneurial spirit is vital for any organisation.
- Adopt Intelligent Risk Management. Balancing the need for innovation with the need to manage risks is a skill that leaders can develop through practice and reflection. It is about knowing when to push boundaries and when to hold back to ensure sustainability.
The Key Takeaway
My conversation with Robyn Bolton illuminates a path forward for leaders looking to integrate innovation into their leadership arsenal effectively. Innovation leadership is not about discarding what you know but about expanding your toolkit to include the facilitation of exploration and creativity.
Leaders who embrace these practices, perhaps through targeted innovation leadership training, may find themselves at the helm of a more motivated, forward-thinking, and resilient team. By focusing on a robust innovation strategy, leaders can ensure their organisations remain competitive and continue to thrive in an ever-changing market.
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A video from the JBL High Performance YouTube channel that goes deeper on the ideas in this article.
Leading Through Uncertainty: Robyn Bolton on Innovation Beyond Expertise
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Get the Quick-Win PackQuestions managers ask about this
How can leaders encourage innovation without increasing workload?
Leaders can encourage innovation by integrating small, value-driven improvements into daily operations rather than treating it as a separate project. Creating a safe space for diverse ideas and normalising learning from failure helps innovation thrive without adding extra workload.
What mindset shift do leaders need for effective innovation?
Leaders should shift from being experts with all the answers to facilitators who encourage questioning and exploration. Balancing operational excellence with a culture of curiosity and experimentation helps teams adapt and innovate effectively.
How should leaders manage risk when promoting innovation?
Leaders need to adopt intelligent risk management by knowing when to push boundaries and when to hold back. This balance ensures innovation progresses while maintaining sustainability, achieved through practice and reflection on what risks are acceptable.
Why is it important to welcome diverse perspectives in innovation?
Innovation benefits from varied viewpoints because it brings unorthodox ideas that might otherwise be missed. Leaders should foster environments where team members feel safe to express different perspectives, which fuels creativity and meaningful improvements.
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Jimmy Burroughes
FounderFormer British Army officer and corporate GM who has transformed nearly 3,500 managers into leaders across 30+ organisations. Creator of the Simplify to Amplify methodology, author of Beat Burnout, Ignite Performance, and two-time Global Recognition Award winner.
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