11 innovativeQualities Leadershipof

Aware1

This is probably the most important, yet most difficult quality to develop. There's not a standard equation that will help you become self-aware, or aware of what is going on around you. Awareness is something that only comes through experience and a willingness to be present.

2Think Before Speaking

Honesty is essential, but make sure your communication doesn’t go too far. You might actually be hurting employees' morale if you think your honesty is helping--sometimes honesty can simply be indulgent. Be careful with your words and your tone.

3Interdependent

Running a business is about inclusiveness--even with your competitors sometimes. Leaders need to use both external and internal talent to reach a wider audience in a way that is creative, useful, and profitable.

4Vulnerable

Being vulnerable makes you a real person that is approach-able. In fact, showing and encourgaging vulnerability will ac-tually increase innovation and creativity because you will make it ok and even necessary to fail. Vulnerability removes the fear of failing. If you're a vulnerable leader you'll see that your employees will take the risks that really pay off, and they'll feel supported as they fail and eventually succeed.

HumbleIt’s OK to admit that you don’t have all the answers. That’s why you hired people who know what they’re doing, and can contribute ideas you’ll never think of. Your humility can lead your team to an openness that will lead to innovation.

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6Giving

“For generations, we have focused on the individual drivers of success: passion, hard work, talent, and luck. But today, success is increasingly dependent on how we interact with others. It turns out that at work, most people operate as either takers, matchers, or givers. Whereas takers strive to get as much as possible from others and matchers aim to trade evenly, givers are the rare breed of people who contribute to others with-out expecting anything in return.” -Adam Grant

7Democratic

“Democratic businesses tend to be more financially suc-cessful and have greater social impact than their bureau-cratic counterparts. People want to have their voices heard. When you give them that and respect what they have to say, they are more engaged, and that makes them more produc-tive.” - Sarah Horowitz

8Purposeful

More and more research confirms that having a purpose is more effective than making goals. If you feel a deep sense of purpose as a leader, you’ll want to get things done and in-spire your team. Your purpose will inspire action with clarity.

9UnconventionalFlexibility is key. More and more research shows that em-ployees are more productive when they feel they have some control over their schedule, and they're more likely to per-form and deliver on time because they want to keep the privi-lege of a flex schedule.

10Empathetic

It’s extremely important in today’s workplace to actually care for your employees and their welfare. You don’t have to get into personal life details, but it’s important that you con-sistently put yourself in their shoes to try to understand how you can help them do their best.

11present

Often, as leaders, you are hyper-aware that everyone is looking to you for inspiration and direction. Unfortunately, it's easy to turn on auto-pilot and trust too much in templates, checklists or meth-odologies you're still holding on to from way back in b-school. Stop trying so hard to lead. If let yourself be the natural awesome, caring, creative, hustling leader that you are, then just relax and embody the present moment.