One of the questions I get most frequently is, “What can leaders do to promote creativity and innovation in their organizations?”

The truth is, leaders cast an enormous shadow, and the slightest interactions can have ripple effects across the organization. Most folks fear failure because they suspect their boss expects perfection. What’s worse, especially with early-stage ideas, the flaws are often more apparent than the virtues are.

So what’s a leader to do? One of the best answers I’ve ever heard comes from innovation guru Tom Kelley:

Squint.

“When you squint, you ignore the surface details and ask yourself, is there a kernel of an idea here?”

When we are generating ideas, they often emerge half-formed at best. At such moments, the best leadership tactic is to look for hidden possibility. There are plenty of parts of the organization where criticism is valuable. It can even be a valuable tool for spurring creativity, in the hands of a confident innovator.

But if you want to promote creativity as a leader, I wouldn’t recommend leading off with critique.

I’d suggest starting to squint.

Related: Look for What’s Right
Related: Seek Critique

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