The role of a leader is a key factor in successful innovation in an organization. Followers' perception of the traits linked to an innovative profile of their leader can act as a driving factor for innovation. The main motive of this article may have been to explore the qualities of an innovative leader. The result shows behavioral qualities, traits and innovative leadership skills. The assumption that leadership is a social and relational process highlights the importance of the perception of the middle-level manager relative to the primary leader because this influences how the former will behave in his role as leader. Reasoning ability is very important for innovative leaders. The list of reasoning skills of innovative leaders is also discussed in this article. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Innovative leadership empowers others to think outside the box, then creates an environment where new ideas can be tested. These leaders tend to be visionary and motivate their followers by leading by example. To meet the needs of the organization, innovative leadership uses different leadership styles. Innovative leaders manage the innovation process. In some cases, this leader is responsible for generating new ideas within an organization. History of Innovative Leadership Innovative leadership is a product of path-goal theory and leader-member exchange theory was founded by researchers Basu and Green in 1997. Path-goal theory is based on the fact that within an organization requires many leadership styles. For innovative leadership to work well within an organization, it needs follower cooperation and an effective environment. The leader-member exchange theory states that each individual should be governed by a leadership style that suits him. Examples of Innovative Leadership Benioff is the founder and CEO of Salesforce, a cloud-based company. It was founded in 1999. The company has expanded through a large number of acquisitions. In 2013, its revenue exceeded $3 billion. It topped Forbes' list of the world's most innovative companies in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Salesforce.com claims to have transformed the enterprise software market and says it is now leading the shift to social enterprise. Skills for an Innovative Leader Managing Risk: Innovative leaders scored 25% higher than their non-innovative peers in risk management. Innovative leaders are bold when it comes to experimenting with new approaches. However, they will initiate reasonable actions when potentially negative consequences are foreseen. Innovative leaders develop plans to identify risk and minimize it. Demonstrate curiosity: Innovative leaders scored higher in terms of demonstrating curiosity. They show an underlying curiosity to learn more. These leaders will actively take the initiative to learn new information, which demonstrates commitment and loyalty to company goals. They need to lead effectively and stimulate new ways of thinking in other workers. Lead with courage: Innovative leaders are proactive and lead with confidence. They turn difficult circumstances into prime opportunities to demonstrate their decisive abilities and take responsibility for difficult decision-making processes. Innovative leaders are confident in engaging and holding the audience's attention in meetings and discussions. They do not avoid conflicts and differences of opinion..