Empowering and Developing Innovative Thinkers
Unleashing the Power of Autonomy and Growth, Article 4 of 7 in the Building a Culture of Innovation in the Workplace Series
Organizations thrive when they harness the potential of their employees' innovative ideas and talents. As leaders, it is our responsibility to empower and develop these creative thinkers, fostering an environment where autonomy, resources, and growth opportunities abound. By doing so, we unlock the untapped potential within our teams and pave the way for groundbreaking ideas and solutions.
In my days in the military, this was a concept commonly used by armies throughout the western world, known as “Mission Command”. It referred to the idea that there should be a central commander’s intent, but that then individual subordinate commanders should be empowered to make decisions within that intent in order to allow them the flexibility to react to changing situations while maintaining control of their units.
Providing your teams with a clear intent (that aligns with the overall corporate vision, mission, and values) and then giving them the latitude to make decisions on how to best operationalize that intent is key to developing innovative teams. In this article, I’ll explore approaches for leaders to empower managers, while underscoring the significance of autonomy and growth in fostering innovation.
Autonomy: Cultivating the Seeds of Innovation
One of the fundamental building blocks for empowering innovative thinkers lies in granting them autonomy. Encouraging individuals to take ownership of their work and providing them with the freedom to explore their ideas nurtures a sense of responsibility and fuels creativity. When employees have the autonomy to experiment, make decisions, and take risks, they feel empowered to think outside the box and bring forth novel solutions.
General George S. Patton once said, "Generals who have nothing to say are dangerous." I believe he was referring to the idea that leaders can foster autonomy by delegating authority, setting clear goals and expectations, and promoting a culture of trust, and by encouraging them to think critically and creatively. Autonomy enables individuals to explore various approaches and solutions, leading to the development of innovative strategies and tactics. Just like in military operations, where independent thinking is crucial for success, granting autonomy to employees in any domain fosters a culture of innovation and empowers them to reach their full potential. By empowering employees with autonomy, we create an environment that not only values their individual perspectives but also instills a sense of ownership and accountability in their work.
Resources: Fueling the Fires of Creativity
While autonomy lays the foundation for innovation, providing employees with the necessary resources is equally crucial. As leaders, we must ensure that our teams have access to the tools, technologies, and knowledge required to bring their ideas to life. By investing in the development and provision of resources, we demonstrate our commitment to their growth and reinforce their ability to contribute meaningfully to the organization. Having a sound logistical plan to support your management team in all their efforts is a key component to enabling their future successes.
That success begins with ensuring you are allocating budgets for training, research & development, creating cross-functional collaboration platforms, and encouraging continuous learning opportunities every year. We as leaders can equip our teams with the resources they need, and we can also prevent their future success by failing to plan and provide for their development and support. The choice is ours to make. Never blame a subordinate for failures when you didn’t give them the resources to succeed. Only by providing the necessary support, can we empower our employees to unleash their full creative potential and in turn, develop innovative solutions that push the boundaries of our corporations, allowing for exponential growth.
Key Takeaway: Nurture the Seeds of Brilliance
To truly empower and develop innovative thinkers, leaders must provide ample opportunities for growth and personal development. By investing in corporate training programs (both collective and individual training), mentoring initiatives, and career advancement pathways, we not only enhance the skills and capabilities of our employees but also foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement. When employees feel valued and supported in their growth journeys, they are more likely to take risks, explore new ideas, and push the boundaries of innovation.
By creating a culture that nurtures and celebrates growth, leaders inspire their teams to realize their full potential and contribute their unique talents to the organization's success. Empowering and developing innovative thinkers is a cornerstone of organizational success. By providing autonomy, resources, and opportunities for growth, leaders can create an environment that fosters creativity, ingenuity, and breakthrough ideas, fueling a culture of innovation that propels our organizations to new heights.