Innovative leadership in organizations: Dimensions, measurement, and validation

In this multi-study investigation, we explored the theoretical content and structural dimensions of innovative leadership in organizations. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, we found that innovative leadership comprises five dimensions: thinking creatively, holding the willpower to be innovative, tolerating different opinions and various risks, establishing mechanisms for innovation, and implementing innovation ideas. Through a series of seven studies, we developed and established the reliability and validity of the Innovative Leadership Measure (ILM), which was significantly related to innovative performance in the workplace at both the individual and team levels of analysis. We discuss the theoretical contributions and practical implications of these findings.