There are a number of great innovation and organizational creativity books on the market today.  Many focus on process, or idea generation, or problem solving, or new product development.  All of these books stress the importance of leadership on the success or failure of organizational innovation management programs.  The problem with each of these books was that, while the importance of leadership was repeatedly mentioned, the mentions were not followed with a "how-to" on making it actually happen. 

That is...until now.  The 2008 release of Innovation Leaders by Jean-Phillipe Deschamps changes all of that.  This is quite possibly the best known compendium focused solely on the attributes, approaches, styles, mannerisms, character and other leadership qualities that make up leaders of ideas, organizational creativity and innovation management. 

Take for example, the Six Innovation Leadership Attributes that Professor Deschamps describes when talking about the special kind of leadership it takes to manage innovation:

1. A mix of emotion and realism
2. The acceptance of uncertainty, risks and failures and to ensure people learn from each
3. A high degree of passion and a burning desire to share that passion with others
4. The willingness to search proactively for external technologies and ideas
5. The courage to stop projects if they no longer show benefit
6. A talent for building, steering, attracting and retaining innovative teams

The book flows extremely well and is packed with page after page of great insight, experience and guidance.  Early on, the book walks through the "basics" of innovation leadership and management.  Yes...leadership and management are different...and he explains exactly why in the organizational innovation context.  Additionally, there are some great nuggets of advice on using different approaches to fostering bottom-up innovation vs. steering top-down innovation.  Within the middle of book, Professor Deschamps takes the reader behind the scenes at various organizations (TetraPak, Medtronic, TiVo, Logitech) as he shares, in an almost play-by-play fashion, the management and leadership view of new product/service development.  He then concludes the book by exploring the difficult task of attracting, developing and retaining innovation leaders.

For those of us who are primarily focused on the management and leadership of organizational creativity, innovation management, new product development, etc., this book a definite continuing education resource!  I highly encourage you to get a copy today!

What is even more exciting is that Jean-Phillipe Deschamps is one of the keynote speakers at the 2009 PDMA Annual International Conference!  I can't wait to hear him talk about innovation leadership and maybe get a chance to have him sign the book!  Don't forget that the Think For A Change Blog is a Media Partner for the conference again this year.  We'll be promoting the conference on this blog right up until the conference starts, when we will then switch over to live blogging and Twittering of the conference events as they unfold!  Conference registration opens soon so watch here for your special Media Partner discount code...good for up to a 20% savings!