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.

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.
Innovation Leadership Skills
These leadership skills apply to all organizations, whether you are a small organization or a large organization.

* Integrity

* You need to trust the people you are working with.
* You need to know they are looking out for what is in the best interests of the team and organization.


* Vision and Strategy.

* Team members are looking to the leaders to communicate what the vision and strategy are.
* You need to look long-range beyond where the team is and roll that back in so they can see what your vision is.
* You need to be able to tell the story, make the pitch, and share your dream with others.
* Communication is critical to successful innovation leadership,
* 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.
* Know what is going on in your team members’ lives so you can help them eliminate distractions and get their heads in the game.
* You have got to persuade people to leave what they are doing now and join your team.
* You must be able to convince them that what are doing is something worth their time.


* Adaptability and Flexibility.

* As a leader you cannot be rigid, you must be adaptable and flexible with your team and organization.
* Can you operate as a leader of a team?
* You need diversity in your team to be successful.


* Coach and develop.

* Find young and upcoming people and coach and develop them.


* Decision-Making.

* You must be comfortable making the final decision.
* Realize that sometimes the decision you make is going to fail.


* Planning and organizing.

* If you are not good at planning and organizing, then hire people to do it for your team.



Basic Skill You Need
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?

* Innovation leadership involves taking risks.

* You must be comfortable that some of the decisions you make are going to fail.
* Some of your decisions are going to be flipped.


* You need to keep looking for new opportunities and threats.

* Look for threats to your organization, industry, or geography.


* Innovation is about change.

* Stability is the death of innovation.
* Foster a culture where change is expected.


* Do not rest on the traditional management techniques.

* Every situation is different.
* You need to invent the way you manage and do leadership.


* Be an optimist.

* Innovation is about being an optimist.
* You need to convince and convey an optimistic view of the future.


* Innovators cut through the crap.

The Best of Killer Innovations: The Art of Innovation Leadership

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Are you ready to unleash your full creative potential and take your innovation skills to new heights? In today's fast-paced world, creativity and innovation are essential for success. That's why I'm excited to launch a new series on “Mastering Creative Thinking Skills.” This series will explore techniques to help you become a better problem solver and idea generator. Remember, creativity is not limited to a select few; it's a skill anyone can learn and hone over time with practice.

Exploring Creative Thinking Skills
Despite the inherent ability within all of us, most people tap into less than 10% of their full creative potential throughout their lives. Unlocking our creative thinking skills can propel us to achieve our dreams and redefine the boundaries of what's possible.
Imagine having a powerful toolkit that transforms every challenge into an opportunity for innovation. From breaking down complex problems with Systems thinking to sparking your motivation with Inspirational Thinking, we will dive deep into skills that will make you more creative and dramatically increase your effectiveness. Let's explore the five creative thinking skills together:
Divergent Thinking
Divergent thinking is the capability to generate multiple solutions to a problem, exploring as many avenues as possible. Casting a wide net when fishing for ideas prioritizes quantity with the mindset that there will be a few gems worth refining among the many ideas. The optimal time to employ divergent thinking is at the onset of problem-solving processes. Before any attempt to narrow down solutions, it's crucial to explore all potential ideas.
Convergent Thinking
Convergent Thinking is the mental process of focusing on a single, optimal solution to a problem from a pool of possibilities generated during divergent thinking. This thinking style involves logical reasoning, critical analysis, and the application of existing knowledge and rules to arrive at a definitive answer. Engage in convergent thinking after exploring various possibilities through divergent thinking.
Aesthetic Thinking
Aesthetic thinking goes beyond mere appreciation of the visual; it involves a holistic perception of aesthetics, recognizing the harmony between form and function. Applying aesthetic thinking is critical in areas where the user experience is paramount. This includes, but is not limited to, product design, architecture, digital interfaces, and art.
Systems Thinking
Systems thinking helps us see how different parts of a problem or opportunity are connected. It's about understanding that changing one thing can affect many other things, too. Using systems thinking is crucial because it helps us make better decisions. For example, if a school is trying to improve students' health, systems thinking would consider physical education classes, cafeteria food options, mental health resources, and even how much time students spend on screens.
Inspirational Thinking
Inspirational thinking is the spark that drives creativity. It involves imagining the best-case scenarios to find a new way to solve a problem. This thinking is critical in keeping us excited and passionate about what we're doing, whether in school, as a hobby, or even when working on a challenging project.
Conclusion
Future episodes will focus on one creative thinking skill at a time, providing tips on cultivating and using these skills effectively. With practice, you can learn to use the right creative thinking skills at the right time and in the right way to overcome challenges, generate new ideas,

Mastering Creative Thinking Skills

The creative process often seems elusive, with the best ideas striking at the most unexpected moments. That magical spark can be exhilarating when an idea materializes seemingly out of nowhere. But how do you harness that creative energy at will rather than waiting for it to strike spontaneously? Many would argue it's impossible, blaming their struggles on the creative block. However, overcoming creative block is achievable and more straightforward than you imagine. In the following sections, I'll share five actionable steps to help you overcome creative block and tap into your creativity whenever needed.

Understanding Creative Block
Creative block is akin to writer's block—that feeling stuck when faced with a blank canvas, page, or screen, unable to generate ideas. It's frustrating when your creativity seems to vanish when you need it most. The prevailing myth suggests you must wait for creativity as if an external force controls it. However, the truth is that your creativity never truly leaves you; it's always there, waiting to be accessed.
The Root Causes of Creative Block
Several factors contribute to creative block, including fear of failure, perfectionism, burnout, and a lack of routine. Fear of failure often prevents people from starting a creative endeavor, while perfectionism leads to procrastination as individuals wait for ideal conditions. Burnout can result from prolonged creative efforts without adequate rest or relaxation, while a lack of routine makes it difficult to sustain creativity consistently.
Five Steps to Overcome Creative Block
Step 1: Establish a Routine
Establishing a structured creative routine is crucial for maintaining consistent creativity. Set aside specific times for creative work and prepare your workspace to minimize distractions. Treat your creative time as non-negotiable, blocking it on your calendar to ensure uninterrupted focus.
Step 2: Embrace Imperfection
Learn to embrace imperfection and be willing to accept that your first attempts may not be perfect. Perfectionism can be paralyzing, hindering your creative process. By embracing imperfection, you free yourself from the pressure to produce flawless work and allow yourself to experiment and grow.
Step 3: Seek New Experiences
Break out of your routine and seek new experiences to stimulate your creativity. Engage in activities outside your comfort zone, travel to new places, or join clubs and communities that expose you to different perspectives. New experiences feed your subconscious mind, sparking fresh ideas and insights.
Step 4: Practice Self-Care
Prioritize your mental and physical well-being to support optimal creativity. Take breaks, engage in hobbies unrelated to your creative pursuits, and incorporate exercise into your routine. Recharge your creative energy by taking time to relax and rejuvenate.
Step 5: Collaborate and Share
Collaborate with others and share your work to gain valuable feedback and insights. Join online and offline creative communities where you can connect with like-minded individuals and exchange ideas. Sharing your work fosters collaboration and provides opportunities for growth and learning.
Conclusion
Overcoming creative block is not about waiting for inspiration to strike; it's about committing to the creative process and taking action. By establishing a routine, embracing imperfection, seeking new experiences, practicing self-care, and collaborating with others, you can overcome creative block and unlock your full creative potential. Remember, your creativity is always within reach—now go out and create something amazing!

5 Steps to Overcoming Creative Block

In the competitive landscape of business, innovation isn't just a buzzword; it's the driving force that fuels growth, sustains relevance, and pushes companies into the future. While many organizations focus on cultivating innovation from within, there's an alternative path that's often overlooked—innovation by acquisition. During my decade-long stint as CTO at HP, I was front and center for over 80 acquisitions, all in pursuit of innovation by acquisition. These experiences ranged from roaring successes to cautionary tales, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of integrating innovative ventures into established corporate ecosystems.

The Wall Street Conundrum
The challenge? Aligning traditional valuation metrics with the intangible benefits of innovation-driven acquisitions. When companies are acquired for their innovative potential, their valuation often hinges on a ‘future promise'—a projection of how their innovations will contribute to new revenue streams, market differentiation, and competitive advantage. This speculative nature makes it tough for investors to gauge the true value of these deals, leading to market skepticism or overenthusiasm.
The Complex Dynamics of Integration
Achieving a return on innovation through acquisitions requires more than just integrating new technologies or products. It involves merging distinct corporate cultures, teams, and visions—a task that's easier said than done. Traditional Wall Street valuation models, adept at evaluating tangible assets, often fall short in these complex scenarios. This gap can result in volatile investor reactions, from inflated stock prices to sharp declines.
When Innovation by Acquisition Works
What sets apart successful innovation acquisitions from missteps? Clear objectives, defined metrics, and organizational alignment. Pursuing an acquisition with a clear goal of injecting innovation, backed by concrete metrics and aligned with organizational goals, smoothens the integration and value creation process. Yet, achieving this clarity is a challenge. Many leaders, enticed by quick innovation fixes, dive into acquisitions without fully understanding their motivations or exploring alternative paths.
The Road Less Traveled: Alternatives to Acquisition
Before diving into acquisitions, leaders should consider less risky, more efficient alternatives. Collaboration forms, like patent licenses or cross-licenses, can offer access to desired technology with lower risk and financial outlay. These approaches also shield companies from Wall Street scrutiny, allowing for more freedom and flexibility in pursuing innovation.
Navigating the Acquisition Maze
For those committed to innovation by acquisition, success hinges on understanding what makes these ventures thrive. It's about delving deep into organizational cultures, values, and future visions. It requires meticulous post-acquisition planning to ensure the acquired company's innovative spirit isn't stifled by bureaucratic hurdles or cultural resistance.
Steps to Successful Innovation Acquisition

* Identify Strategic Alignment: Ensure the acquisition aligns with long-term strategic goals and innovation objectives.
* Conduct Thorough Due Diligence: Assess the target company’s culture, technology, and market position beyond financials.
* Involve Key Stakeholders Early: Engage leaders and employees from both organizations to foster alignment and address concerns.
* Define Clear Metrics and Goals: Establish concrete metrics for success and guide the integration process.
* Plan for Cultural Integration: Address cultural differences to avoid clashes post-acquisit...

80 Attempts at Innovation by Acquisition: Lessons Learned

The term “innovation theatre” has become increasingly prevalent in today's competitive landscape. It refers to the superficial acts organizations undertake to appear innovative without genuinely committing to the hard work of genuine innovation. This misleading facade often leads to wasted resources, missed opportunities, and damaged reputations. So, how can you spot this illusion, and what can you do to foster real innovation?

Misleading Motivations
Innovation theatre stems from a desire for quick wins and external validation rather than a genuine commitment to innovation. Organizations often invest heavily in flashy innovation labs, prime locations, and top facilities, prioritizing appearance over substance. This focus on the exterior rather than the core innovation process is a telltale of innovation theatre.
Common Signs

* Flashy Innovation Labs with No Substance: These labs serve as mere showpieces, lacking the foundational research and development needed for true innovation.
* Hackathons with No Follow-Through: While hackathons generate excitement and publicity, they often lack a concrete plan for implementing the ideas generated.
* Premature Product Announcements: Some companies announce groundbreaking products that never materialize, creating buzz without delivering value.
* Frequent Rebranding of Innovation Initiatives: Constantly changing the name and logo of innovation projects can signal a lack of focus and commitment.
* Adopting Buzzwords Without Strategy: Incorporating trendy terms like blockchain, AI, or quantum without a clear implementation plan is another form of superficial innovation.
* Treating Innovation Funding as Optional: Viewing innovation as a discretionary expense rather than a strategic investment can hinder long-term success.

The Pitfalls of Innovation Theatre
Engaging in innovation theatre can have several negative consequences:

* Wasted Resources: Organizations spend money on appearances rather than genuine innovation efforts.
* Lack of Sustainable Progress: Short-term gains fail to translate into long-term success.
* Damaged Reputation: A lack of substance can lead to skepticism from stakeholders and the public.
* Missed Opportunities: Focusing on the facade of innovation means missing out on genuine growth opportunities.
* Cultural Impact: Innovation theatre can foster a culture that values style over substance, leading to cynicism and disengagement among employees.

The Benefits of Authentic Innovation
In contrast to innovation theatre, authentic innovation offers numerous benefits:

* Sustainable Success: Genuine innovation creates a pipeline of ideas that fuel long-term growth.
* Industry Leadership: Authentic innovation allows organizations to lead rather than follow, setting industry standards rather than chasing them.
* Better Resource Allocation: When we focus on genuine innovation, we allocate resources more effectively, which leads to higher productivity and greater employee satisfaction.
* Cultural Impact: A culture of genuine innovation fosters critical thinking, continuous improvement, and trust among employees.

Choose Authenticity Over Illusion
Innovation is not a strategy; it's a survival tactic. Organizations must move beyond the illusion of innovation theatre and commit to the hard work of genuine innovation. By doing so, they can unlock sustainable success, industry leadership, and a culture of continuous improvement. So, the next time you encounter an organization engaging in innovation theatre, ask yourself: Are they truly committed to innovation or me...

STOP Performing Innovation Theatre

In an age of constant change, we cannot overstate the value of adaptability and innovation. Yet, many of us find ourselves entrenched in a pattern of repetitive thinking, relying on familiar approaches to navigate the complexities of life. However, there exists a transformative alternative: creative thinking. This article explores the power of creative thinking and provides insights into how to cultivate this invaluable skill.

Understanding Monotonous Thinking
Monotonous thinking, akin to traversing the same path repeatedly, offers comfort and predictability. Our brains, naturally inclined towards efficiency, gravitate towards established patterns and solutions. While this may have sufficed in the past, it poses limitations in today's dynamic world. Signs of monotonous thinking include a preference for routine, reluctance to embrace change and resistance to new ideas.
To determine whether you're entrenched in monotonous thinking, follow this checklist. If you agree with several of these statements, it might be time to infuse more creativity into your problem-solving strategies.

* Repetition Comfort: You prefer sticking to routines and methods you're already familiar with, even when they're not yielding the best results.
* Solution Stagnation: When faced with a problem, your first instinct is to apply solutions that worked in the past, regardless of their fit for the current issue.
* Risk Aversion: The thought of trying something new or unconventional makes you uncomfortable, leading you to avoid it altogether.
* Idea Dismissal: You tend to quickly dismiss new ideas without fully exploring their potential benefits or applicability to your situation.
* Feedback Resistance: People often respond to criticism or suggestions for alternative approaches with defensiveness rather than curiosity or openness to change.
* Inspiration Insufficiency: You struggle to find inspiration or generate new ideas, often feeling stuck in a creative rut.
* Change Challenge: Changes in your environment or routines are viewed more as threats than opportunities for growth and learning.

Creative Thinking: An Overview
Creative thinking characterizes a willingness to challenge conventions and explore unconventional solutions, contrasting with monotonous thinking. It involves asking probing questions, envisioning possibilities, and embracing diverse perspectives. Creative thinkers exhibit curiosity, flexibility, and fluency in generating ideas. By fostering a creative mindset, individuals can unlock innovative solutions and navigate challenges with resilience and adaptability.
At its core, creative thinking involves three key components:

* Originality: The ability to develop fresh and unique ideas that deviate from the norm.
* Flexibility: The capability to adapt to new situations, to shift perspectives, and to consider multiple aspects of a problem simultaneously.
* Fluency: The ease with which one can generate a wide range of ideas on a given topic or problem.

Employing creative thinking doesn't mean abandoning logic or practicality; instead, it means enhancing your problem-solving arsenal with a richer diversity of strategies and perspectives. By balancing critical thinking with creative exploration, individuals and organizations can uncover solutions that are effective but also innovative and tailor-made for the complexities of today's world.
The Pitfalls of Monotonous Thinking
Often fueled by fear and comfort, monotonous thinking can hinder personal growth and innovation. Psychologist Carol Dweck warns against the dangers of a fixed mindset,

How to Shift from Monotonous Thinking to Creative Thinking

Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney - A Show About Ideas Creativity And Innovation

The Best of Killer Innovations: The Art of Innovation Leadership

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