Are You Killing Innovation In The Workplace?

In the movie 'Horrible Bosses' we met 3 types of bosses that would make anyone's work experience a living hell. There was the psycho, the incompetent and everyone's favorite, the sex crazed lunatic of a boss. All of which in their own unique way killed innovation in the workplace.

The psycho boss with his flamboyant condescending rhetoric, ruled his enterprise with an iron fist and shot down employee's ideas as a hobby. The incompetent boss knew nothing about the business he suddenly inherited and was more concerned with himself as any poster child of narcissism would be. The sex craved boss couldn't keep from sexually harassing her employee long enough to hear any ideas they may have had to improve the workplace.

Of course these are extreme cases of innovation killing bosses; but nonetheless they do exist. As a leader if you are hindering new ideas in any way you too are an innovation killer. Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself:

• Do you reinforce the kind of work environment that embraces and nurtures innovation, or do you squash innovation like a pesky bug? 
• Does your opinion of yourself measure up with how your employees view you? 

Talent management experts, Development Dimensions International (DDI) have a new whitepaper regarding creating and maintaining a corporate culture that supports innovation that is worth reading especially if you hold a leadership position in your company.

According to DDI's website, "Organizations need innovation to survive and thrive. Thus, they need leaders who excel at driving innovation. But many leaders fall short when it comes to fostering ideas. This report doesn’t question if leaders themselves will be the source of your next great idea. Rather, when that idea arises—from a team member, a customer, or some other source—will leaders be able to foster it an bring it to fruition?"

Do yourself and your company a favor and click here for more information.

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