Today, we're diving into what makes your team burst with creative energy!
Years ago, on a crisp fall evening, I was sitting around a fire pit with a soon-to-be retiring colleague from the US Forest Service. I didn't work at the Forest Service - I worked at another agency, but that doesn't matter here.
Steve was sharing some of his hard-won wisdom with me as he was closing out his decades-long career. He gave me a leadership analogy I have carried into my work ever since that lovely autumn evening.
What did he tell me?
It is so simple and was such an A-Ha moment.
He told me that the real job of a leader is to roll rocks out of the trail so your team can get things done.
So simple and so true.
Great leaders ensure that people have the support, resources, and runway (err—open trail) they need to do their jobs.
And doing this for your team leads me to our leadership code word for this week:
INNOVATION
Here's the truth: The best innovative leaders aren't necessarily the ones with all the bright ideas - they're the ones who create an environment where great ideas can flourish. They're masters at making it safe for their teams to think differently, dream bigger, and, yes, occasionally fail spectacularly.
When you lead as an innovation catalyst, you're not just giving permission to think differently - you're actively inviting disruption to the "we've always done it this way" symphony.
You're the conductor who turns the mundane melody of bureaucracy into a jazz improvisation of possibilities.
Fun fact: Studies show that teams who feel psychologically safe to suggest new ideas are 76% more likely to generate innovative solutions. That's right - your leadership style literally unlocks your team's creative potential!
Put Innovation in Front:
Try this "Yes, And" challenge this week: When team members bring ideas, respond with "Yes, and..." instead of "Yes, but..."
Watch how this tiny shift transforms your team's willingness to share creative solutions.In a world of permission-seekers, be the permission-granter.
Your team's next breakthrough idea is waiting for you to create space for it. Your leadership is the key that unlocks your team's innovative potential, and that ripple effect is changing your corner of the public sector.
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