EXPERT INSIGHTS: Adam Kingl on the mindset leaders need to fuel innovation
Monash Corporate Education is pleased to launch our monthly Expert Insights series, showcasing our facilitators’ unique perspectives and specialised knowledge. We’re kicking off this month with Adam Kingl , a globally-renowned expert in innovating management strategy and leading the modern workforce.
Q. What is one mindset shift you’d encourage leaders to adopt today to drive innovation tomorrow?
“Leaders tend to lean into their identity as an expert and as a result they review all ideas as if they immediately have to decide whether it’s executable or not. As a result, they say ‘No’ or ‘Yes – but’ a lot to their people. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that when their people then stop bringing their leaders new ideas it’s because their egos have been repeatedly crushed.
“The leader’s job is also to encourage new ideas, particularly from people who are on the frontline of the business, who talk to customers every day. Leaders, particularly senior leaders, are frequently at a handicap, because it’s probably been years – or even decades – since they’ve been on the frontline with customers, with operations, etc.
“The other thing leaders really need to lean into is facilitating conversations about innovation. So, for example, thinking about how do you make sure that even introverts contribute to creative brainstorming. How do you ensure that your opinion as the leader doesn’t become overweighted, and rather than encouraging your people to make their own suggestions, they just end up calibrating their responses against your answer?
“So it is delicate. But leaders must create an environment where innovation can thrive. Working on the environment is an exponential improvement on their team’s or their organisation’s capacity for innovation, rather than the leader’s own individual capacity for innovation.”
The author of Sparking Success and Next Generation Leadership, Adam Kingl is also an educator, keynote speaker and adviser, who delivers custom programs for Monash Corporate Education. He has also developed executive education for London Business School, Hult International Business School, Imperial College Business School, Møller Institute – Churchill College at the University of Cambridge, and the UCL School of Management. Adam holds degrees from London Business School, UCLA and Yale University.