5 Things Leaders Do That Stifle Innovation

In 2018, the U.S. slipped out of Bloomberg’s top 10 most innovative countries for the first time. But this isn’t necessarily a hint of entrepreneurship’s demise; it’s a reflection of the tumultuous environment we find ourselves in — one that’s rife with unpredictability.

The most detrimental, and common, derailers identified are:

• Unconscious neglect: a tendency toward carelessness and impulsivity, such as sending work before it’s ready or rushing to send responses that come across as uncaring.
• Overprotectiveness: reserving your best work and being reluctant to share achievements for fear that your ideas will be stolen.
• Overconfidence: leaning on your ego and willpower rather than asking for help, even when you need it.
• Overexertion: pushing yourself beyond reasonable limits.
• Devaluation: taking success for granted and under-appreciating relationships and resources out of an urge to pursue “the next new thing.”