Leaders play a critical role in nurturing an innovation culture. They must:
1. Encourage Open Communication: Create an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas without fear of criticism. 2. Promote Cross-Functional Teams: Encourage collaboration among different departments to generate diverse viewpoints. 3. Reward Risk-Taking: Acknowledge and reward employees who take risks, even if those risks do not always lead to immediate success. 4. Provide Resources: Allocate time, budgets, and tools to support creative projects and research and development. 5. Lead by Example: Demonstrate innovative thinking in their own actions and decisions.