So you’ve just been appointed Innovation Manager, Head of Innovation or Chief Innovation Officer. Congratulations! Now the real work begins.

You may have been selected for this role due to a combination of project management skills, seniority and/or your networks or perhaps you were promoted from an Innovation Champion role. Regardless, you may be wondering what you could be doing to not only survive, but thrive in your role as the head of innovation.

Through my experience working with ASX 500 Companies and multinationals, I’ve observed three key traits that separate successful Innovation managers from those who struggle to spark interest, create momentum and cut through corporate noise.

Here are the three character traits every Innovation Manager needs to bring about real change:

Courage – Innovation and disruption do not lend themselves to cultural or social norms. It doesn’t help that ‘innovation’ sounds fluffy and to most, it’s an abstract concept and Australia’s latest political buzzword.

Being ‘innovative’ has also been typically reserved to a few cliques such as the IT and Digital crowd. In many cases, these groups can create internal barriers, blocking speed and raising red tape. As Innovation Manager, your role in managing individuals, champions and teams means overcoming barriers, removing blockers and finding smart workarounds in order to GSD*.

As the saying goes, “ask for forgiveness, not permission.”

The proviso here is that you have an influential sponsor who has your back and understands your mandate. With this support, you’ll be able to confidently move forward, chorale different teams and inspire those around you to innovate, regardless of what team they’re from.

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