Innovation

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with setting goals. We all need a target to shoot for. The problem is that we do not know how to fail. In fact, the difference between achieving our goals and not achieving them is the ability to fail well.

Failure is a part of life. Show me someone who has never failed and I will show you a fraud. The secret to success is not found in the ability to set and plan to reach our goals. It is found in the ability to get up and continue toward our goals when we fail. It is the ability to use failure as a learning tool instead of a devastating defeat. It takes courage, perseverance, and strength to fall and choose to get up again.

Larry Little
Eagle Center for Leadership

Innovation is more than a single idea or invention. It is a series of choices that shape how we respond to change. Whether that change is driven by technology, competition, or mission needs, the ability to adapt with intention and creativity is what allows organizations to move forward.

At Areté, innovation is part of how we work. It starts with the mindset of the leader and extends to the systems and culture that support new thinking. It depends on how we guide the people who generate ideas and how we create environments where those ideas can take shape.

“Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.”

— Theodore Levitt

The Innovation module of The Areté Way explores four essential elements of innovation: the habits of innovative leaders, the organizational structures that support innovation, the unique leadership required to support innovators, and the conditions that make it safe for people to think creatively. Together, these sessions offer a practical framework for building innovation into the way we lead and work every day. Let’s get started!

Innovation Skills Self-Assessment

Below, you will encounter a series of statements related to innovation skills and practices. Please rate your agreement with each statement using the following Likert scale:

1 - Strongly Disagree: I struggle significantly with this aspect of innovation.
2 - Disagree: I have some difficulty with this aspect of innovation.
3 - Neutral: I am neither particularly skilled nor unskilled in this aspect of innovation.
4 - Agree: I am proficient and generally successful in this aspect of innovation.
5 - Strongly Agree: I excel at this aspect of innovation.

1. I actively seek out new ideas, methods, or technologies to improve how I work.

2. I encourage experimentation and learning from failure on my team.

3. I help create a culture where people feel comfortable sharing unfinished or unconventional ideas.

4. I contribute to shaping innovation efforts that are practical, relevant, and aligned with team or organizational goals.

5. I set up systems and habits that support continuous innovation in my day-to-day work.

6. I recognize and reward innovative contributions from others, regardless of their role.

7. I make space in my schedule or team workflow for creative thinking and long-term ideas.

8. I respond with curiosity rather than defensiveness when presented with new or opposing ideas.

9. I know how to guide innovators without micromanaging their process.

10. I regularly reflect on my own role in supporting or blocking innovation.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email

Your Areté Email Address

Innovation Skills Self-Assessment

Change Landing Pad

Are You an Innovative Leader?

Eagle Center for Leadership