Innovation Leadership Series Part III
Let's be honest – we love our innovation hero stories.
You know the ones I'm talking about. The visionary genius who locks themselves away in a garage or a basement, emerging months later with the Next Big Thing™. The brilliant loner who "thinks different" and changes the world through sheer force of will.
It's a great story. It's also completely wrong.
After spending over a decade working with innovation leaders at companies like Roche, ING, and American Family Insurance, I've learned something crucial: the most successful innovators aren't disconnected visionaries – they're deeply connected leaders who understand that breakthrough innovation happens through people, not in spite of them.
But here's the problem. Most organizations are still chasing the wrong story.
They're looking for their own Steve Jobs (minus the turtleneck), their next Thomas Edison (hopefully with better people skills), or their future Elon Musk (preferably one who stays off social media). They're searching for that one brilliant mind who will solve all their innovation challenges.
Let me save you some time: Stop looking. That person doesn't exist.
Here's what I've seen work instead.
The New Innovation Leadership Playbook
The most effective innovation leaders I've worked with share three crucial traits that flip the traditional "lone genius" narrative on its head:
-
They're Chronic Connectors Instead of isolating themselves to think "big thoughts," they're constantly connecting with customers, teams, and partners. They understand that innovation isn't about having all the answers – it's about asking the right questions to the right people.
-
They're Pattern Seekers, Not Problem Solvers Rather than jumping straight to solutions, they spend time understanding the broader context. They look for patterns across industries, behaviors, and needs. They're more interested in asking "why" than rushing to answer "what."
-
They're Empathy Engineers The best innovation leaders don't just gather data – they develop deep, genuine understanding. They don't just know their customers' pain points – they feel them. This isn't about running another survey; it's about building real human connection.
The Power of Connected Leadership
Here's what this looks like in practice.
Take Brad Smith's leadership at Intuit. Instead of relying solely on market research or competitor analysis, he instituted "follow-me-home" observations where employees would literally spend time watching customers struggle with financial tasks. This deep empathy led to breakthrough innovations that transformed the company.
Or consider Anne Wojcicki at 23andMe. Her approach to innovation wasn't about working in isolation – it was about creating deep connections with customers and the scientific community, leading to a revolution in personal genetics.
Breaking Free from the Myth
So how do you move beyond the lone innovator myth? Start here:
-
Get Out of Your Office Seriously. Right now. Go talk to your customers. Not through a survey, not through an email – have real conversations. Understanding comes from connection, not contemplation.
-
Build Innovation Networks, Not Innovation Departments Stop trying to centralize innovation in one team or one leader. Create networks of people throughout your organization who can spot opportunities and connect dots.
-
Make Empathy a Practice, Not a Buzzword Schedule regular customer interactions. Create spaces for team members to share customer stories. Make understanding human needs as important as understanding market trends.
The future of innovation leadership isn't about finding that one brilliant mind. It's about creating connected organizations where breakthrough ideas can come from anywhere – because everyone is empowered to understand and solve real human problems.
Let's stop waiting for our innovation hero and start building organizations that can innovate together.
What story is your organization telling about innovation leadership? Are you still searching for that lone genius, or are you ready to embrace the power of connected leadership?
