A Fresh Innovation Playbook for Today's Leaders

How Everyday Leaders Can Harness Innovation to Drive Meaningful Change

In the latest episode of The High Performance Leader Podcast, I sat down with Robyn Bolton, founder and chief navigator at Mile Zero, who brings a wealth of experience from her time at iconic companies like Procter & Gamble and her academic stint at Harvard. Robyn shared her unique perspective on innovation—not as monumental disruptions but as actionable shifts that leaders can implement within their teams.

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. By broadening the definition, innovation becomes less about earth-shattering change 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. 

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 innovation landscape requires them to cultivate a different set of skills—ones that prioritize questioning over answering and exploring over exploiting.

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 emphasized 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. This also means 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. In fact, the less like this you are, the more likely you are to exhibit the innovative leadership strengths of high performers. 

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:

1. 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.
2. Normalize 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.
3. 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’s about knowing when to push boundaries and when to hold back to ensure sustainability.

Conclusion

My conversation with Robyn Bolton illuminates a path forward for leaders looking to integrate innovation into their leadership arsenal effectively. The key takeaway? Innovation leadership isn't about discarding what you know but about expanding your toolkit to include the facilitation of exploration and creativity.

Leaders who embrace these practices may find themselves at the helm of a more motivated, forward-thinking, and resilient team.

Engage with Us:

If you found these insights from Robyn Bolton as enlightening as I did, join the conversation below! Share how you are incorporating innovation into your leadership style and the impact it has had on your team and organization.

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