Innovation: The Who's Where's and How's

I have always asserted that for the most part companies focus too much on certain leadership traits over others. You know, the hard skills over the soft skills, the deep analytical skills over intuitive skills. This is not to say that these skills are not valuable; they really are. But - I know, the use of " but" is passe and should not be used - the fact is that all organizations needs all skills at all levels. This is one the core learnings from Innovation Management. For a succesful Innovation practice to flourish, you need to create an intersection of diverse traits and skills. So, what prompted me to write this entry? The fact that I am sensing that there is a new awareness out there about these issues as I am reading many articles in the Harvard Business Review (HBR), for example, that seem to be searching for new answers regarding leadership, collaboration and innovation. Could it be that we are reevaluating how we define leadership and how we find new leaders? If HBR ...

So much of innovation is coming up with new ideas and concepts via a change in perspective. (I have included the above picture to stimulate a change in the same before reading on). I have spoken and written in the past about perspective and the value of changing it often. Many a time I have read about artists needing to travel in order to change their perspectives and drive inspiration and passion. This entry, however, is about the value of life learning which to me is a constant change in perspective. I am one that is motivated by constant learning and in thinking about this subject it occurred to me that our social systems do not seem to instill this philosophy. If Leonrado De Vinci espoused it, who can argue against it? One very simple idea would be to create 10, 20, 30 year University degrees. Who decided that four years is enough? (of course there is Masters and PHD's). But really, why not have life learning degrees that are broader and instead of narrowing the field of studie...