Episode 23 - Leadership Innovation
Download MP3Welcome to a student of leadership, a micro podcast where leaders are made one habit at a time. Hosted by Rob Adams, a leadership veteran with thirty years of experience. This podcast explores key concepts that define exceptional leadership. Each episode delves into a powerful word or strategy, offering practical insights and real world stories. Whether you're just starting out or an experienced executive, join Rob as he guides you in learning, growing, and leading with purpose.
Rob Adams:Hello, everyone, and welcome back to A Student of Leadership, where great leaders are made one habit at a time. I'm Rob Adams, your host, and today we're talking about something that keeps teams alive, relevant and growing. The word today is innovation. Innovation isn't just about game changing inventions or billion dollar ideas. It's about making things better, even just a little bit better every single day.
Rob Adams:You see great leaders don't just chase the next big thing. They build environments where curiosity beats comfort and progress becomes a team habit. Let's break down what innovation looks like in leadership and more importantly, how can you build it into your team's daily rhythm. You've probably got a can of WD 40 somewhere in your garage. What you might not know is that WD stands for water displacement, and 40 means it was the fortieth formula.
Rob Adams:The first thirty nine just didn't work. The company's CEO, Gary Ridge, turned that same persistence into a culture defining behavior. He didn't just want people to succeed. He wanted them to experiment, fail, and learn without fear. At WD-forty, they don't even use the word failure.
Rob Adams:They call them learning moments. That shift changed everything. Ridge knew that if his people were afraid to be wrong, they'd stop being creative. So he celebrated mistakes publicly. He built psychological safety into the culture.
Rob Adams:And the result? A team unafraid to try, adapt, and improve. And now that is real innovation. Small, brave steps moving forward. Now let's have some real talk.
Rob Adams:Are you leading with innovation? Let's keep it simple. Innovation doesn't come from saying we value creativity in a meeting. It comes from how you respond the moment someone says, hey, I have an idea. Now here's the gut check question.
Rob Adams:When your team tries something new and it doesn't work, how do you respond? If people feel shut down, embarrassed, or ignored, they will stop trying. If they feel heard, trusted, and challenged, they'll try again, and again, and again. Innovation isn't about being brilliant. It's about feeling safe enough to keep going when you're not.
Rob Adams:Steve Jobs once said, innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. And you know he was right. But here's the real insight: Leaders don't have to be the innovators. They just need to be the ones creating the space for that magic to happen. Now let's talk about some silent signals.
Rob Adams:When your team might be telling you, look out for these quiet signals that innovation might be missing from your team. People stop volunteering ideas in meetings. New hires don't share outside perspectives. The same playbook keeps getting recycled. Do these sound familiar?
Rob Adams:You see, these aren't strategy issues. They're signals that your team might be operating under fear and not under freedom. So here's a micro behavioral worth trying. When someone brings up a brand new idea, thank them. Ask a follow-up question and encourage iteration.
Rob Adams:Even if not the right idea, it keeps the door open for the next one. A McKinsey study found that 84% of leaders say innovation is critical, yet only 6% are satisfied with their team's innovation performance. That large gap isn't about strategy, it's about behavior. Most teams have the ideas. What they lack is the leadership permission to pursue them.
Rob Adams:Now let's talk about some habits that you can get to stick. I want you to reward small risks even when they fail. Celebrate attempts, not just wins. Say things like, I love that we tried this even if it didn't work out. Ask what if more than why not?
Rob Adams:What if we tried it this way is the language of possibility. Use that more in your language. Bring in outside thinking. Rotate who shares trends from other industries. Host mini idea jams.
Rob Adams:Curiosity you see is not a talent. It's just developing a new routine. Now your action challenge for this week is to pick one process, product, or problem in your world that feels stuck. Call a short brainstorming session not to fix it, but to rethink it. Use sticky notes.
Rob Adams:Use silence. Use what if questions, then act on one small idea your team comes up with. Show them that their thinking is going to move the needle. Because nothing fuels innovation more than seeing your idea come to life. Innovation doesn't require a genius.
Rob Adams:It requires leadership. It's a habit of building the kind of team that's not afraid to try, tweak, and try, try again. Now next week on Student of Leadership Micro Podcast, we'll dive into collaboration. The leadership multiplier that turns individual effort into shared excellence. Until then, keep practicing the habits that make great leaders.
Rob Adams:And remember, great leaders are made one habit at a time. This is Rob Adams signing off for now. Take care everybody.
Otro:Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the student of leadership. Leadership is about who we become and how we help others grow. If you found value in this podcast, share it with a fellow leader and connect with Rob on LinkedIn or leave a review. New episodes drop weekly, so don't forget to subscribe to stay connected. Until next time, keep learning, growing, and leading with intention.
Otro:Remember, great leaders are made one habit at a time. See you next time on a student of leadership.
