ME AND OTHERS: CREATING A CULTURE OF CREATIVITY & INNOVATION

Dear Readers, 

As we continue our first quarterly theme—”Empathy, Creativity, and Innovation for Diversity and Inclusion"—this month we’ll focus on the dimension of "Me and Others: Creating a Culture of Creativity & Innovation." 

In a world that is evolving faster than ever, fostering creativity and innovation in teams is no longer optional—it’s essential. Positive leaders play a key role in creating environments where bold ideas can thrive, and where the next breakthrough might just come from the least expected source. 

Positive leadership unlocks the potential for innovation by blending curiosity, trust, and openness. It’s about building cultures where team members feel safe to dream big, fail fast, and try again. Fostering creativity and innovation in teams can be expressed through different means: 

1.Encouraging Experimentation and Accepting Failure as Part of Innovation 

Mary Murphy , in her insights on growth culture, shared that the greatest leaders encourage their teams to experiment. They see failure not as a setback but as a steppingstone to something extraordinary. Reframing failure as a learning opportunity is at the heart of creativity and innovation. In her episode, Mary really dives deep into how leaders can drive a culture of learning, experimentation, and innovation. Her perspective is a masterclass on unlocking team potential and I really encourage you to listen to it. 

2.Creating an Environment Where Team Members Feel Safe to Share New Ideas 

Legendary chef and entrepreneur Thierry Marx , whom I also received in the podcast, reminds us that innovation starts with creating a safe space where everyone’s input is valued, no matter how unconventional. And actually, this is as true in the kitchen as it is in the boardroom. Leaders who prioritize psychological safety cultivate a team spirit that sparks creativity and collaboration. 

Of course, fostering a culture of innovation in the workplace, and around you at large, takes time and effort. 

Dorie Clark , in her exploration of long-term thinking, explains: “When we think of reinvention, we often think of it as kind of a one-time thing, you know, "Oh, I changed careers," or "Oh, I changed jobs." But the truth is, if we want to be mindful of our reputation, we actually have to be thinking about it on an ongoing basis. And that doesn't mean we need to be obsessed with it, but it does mean that we have to be thoughtful that everything we're doing is sending out sort of micro-perceptions that people are picking up.” 

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Building this environment involves clear communication, respect for each other's ideas, and an openness to challenge the status quo. As leaders, it’s essential that we create the space for our teams to experiment without the fear of immediate success or failure. This is how we ultimately push boundaries and lead change. 

3.Self disruption: the key to unlocking Creativity and Innovation in Leadership 

Finally, innovation starts with self-disruption. As Luc de Brabandere , a leader in strategic innovation, once said, “Innovation is about changing the world. Creativity is about changing how you look at the world.” As leaders, we must continuously ask ourselves how we can disrupt our own thinking and encourage our teams to do the same. 

By challenging our own assumptions and being open to new perspectives, we create an environment where true innovation can thrive. 

And in practice: How can we foster creativity in our leadership? On a personal note, one of the ways I practice fostering creativity in my day-to-day leadership (either at Microsoft in the past or now with Live for Good ) is by regularly engaging in open brainstorming sessions with the teams. These sessions are not just about generating ideas—they are about creating a space where no idea is too big or too small. I really have the feeling that at Microsoft, we did actively welcome creative risks and encourage our team members to voice their most daring ideas. I’ve learned that some of the best breakthroughs come from the most unexpected sources. It’s all about trusting the process and providing support when ideas seem risky. 

As we finish out this year, I encourage you to reflect on how you’re nurturing creativity and innovation within your teams. Are you fostering an environment where new ideas are celebrated and experimentation is encouraged? Are you leading with an openness that allows failure to be viewed as an opportunity to learn and grow? I hope these reflections inspire you to continue creating cultures of innovation and creativity in the coming year. 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences as we wrap up this year. Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, happiness, and meaningful moments. Here's to a wonderful end to 2024 and an inspiring start to the new year! 

Warm regards, 

Jean-Philippe