Cultures of Innovation:What do leaders need to do?

Paul Gentle, Director of Programmes

RLUK Conference, 12 November 2014

LeadershipA process by which an individual or group creates direction, alignment, and commitment for their shared work. Innovation LeadershipA process for creating direction, alignment, and commitment needed to create and implementsomething new that adds value.

Magellan Horth and Vehar (2014) Becoming a Leader who Fosters Innovation

Effective leadership of innovation cultures

• Supporting and protecting the innovation team from superiors/other parts of the organisation

• Ensuring due diligence in building a case for grass- roots innovations

• Bridging groups that are working on similar challenges to ensure constructive cooperation

Effective leadership of innovation cultures• Initiating strategic & structural changes to accommodate

promising innovations • Establishing an innovation strategy that bridges silos • Modelling behaviour & driving communication that sets the

tone in support of innovation

Effective leadership of innovation cultures

• Fostering a culture of innovation • Modelling behaviours • Showing support for different/new/disruptive ideas • Finding ways to hear/see “unfiltered” concepts

Freedom to speakFreedom to operateFreedom to actualise

Ryde and Sofianos (2014) Creating Authentic Organizations

Leadership Foundation research

1. What kinds of backstage and under stage activity do leaders engage in and why? 2. How important is this undisclosed activity?

3. How far are leaders prepared for the full range of operation, both the publicly visible and the backstage? Are there ways preparation could improve?

Lumby (forthcoming)The practice of leadership in HE