The Eight Attributes of Bottom-Up Innovation Leaders

Innovation can be both top-down and bottom-up. Top-down innovation is usually initiated by the company’s founder and implemented by senior leaders. Meanwhile, bottom-up innovation relies on employees who initiate many ideas. Bottom-up innovation leaders attract and develop entrepreneurs, seek and organize creativity, identify and support innovation champions, and understand what makes a can-do climate. These leaders possess eight critical aptitudes: scouting talent, setting framing guidelines, composing and coaching astute teams, being advocates and challengers of ideas, acting as swords and shields for their team, taking risks and triggering learning, behaving like shepherds and leading from the back, and being role models for balance.