What are we talking about - definitions of creativity, innovation, and leadership

Why do I care - contemporary examples of the benefits

How can I do this - Practical guide to use and succeed

From my friends Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch, LeadStar.us

Merriam-Webster definition, paraphrased

Creativity closer to "spontaneous creation" end of spectrum

Merriam-Webster definition, paraphrased

Innovation closer to "re-imagine" end of spectrum

We talked about WHAT these things are, now we can talk about WHY you should care

Creativity and innovation are competitive advantages.

Innovative companies are more successful - take my word for it - or you can look to some outstanding research by the USC Center for Global Innovation and search "Innovation Index". Companies that were identified as 'innovative' via several sources such as Forbes top innovative companies were financially more efficient (they used their money better, bigger ROI), achieved greater market share, and had high levels of employee satisfaction.

Abraham Maslow provided a great foundation to understand self needs.

At the top of his pyramid, one's need for self actualization, creativity had been satisfied.

Leaders influence and inspire others when they satisfy their needs

I have long said that ownership is one of the strongest feelings that can help teams succeed.

My friend Angie uses a picture of a Marine with an Eagle globe and anchor tattoo, she asks the crowd "How many of you have your company logo tattooed on your bodies?"...of course, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone, nevertheless, it is illustrative of the ownership Marines feel.

How do you build ownership?

Supporting your team with confidence and caring, encouraging them to be creative and innovative, finding the 'why not' instead of the 'not'.

And now the promise from the beginning - how can you use your leadership to promote and support creativity and innovation?

There are simple actions, but they are not easy, so if you want to check out now, no harm no foul.

Just listen.

After you've heard, ask valuable questions to clarify:

"How is this different than what we are doing?"

"Why will it be better?"

"How can you make this happen?"

You'll build confidence in your team to bring things to you. You'll build a culture of curiosity and you'll build a climate of respect.

4 seconds...that's all you need to overcome the lizard.

Lizard? Yep, your lizard brain as Seth Godin says, or better the limbic system, an ancient part of our brains we inherited from dinosaurs.

Your limbic system is believed to be the source of emotion, and more importantly, our 'reactionary' responses - threat or reward.

Some modern research has shown that overcoming the impulses sent by this part of our brain are as easy as counting to four - that's how quickly (or slowly depending on how you look at it) our real "brain" makes a logical decision to act on those impulses.

To support ideas that may trigger a THREAT impulse from our limbic - too much money to risk, we'll lose customers, they won't like me - just count to 4.

Try out some ideas. Be curious as to the result. Test - fail - adapt - test - succeed - repeat.

Roosevelt - Man in the arena, who fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.