Creativity and innovation are not one and the same. Creativity is the generation of new ideas by individuals and teams. Innovation is the process of converting those ideas into new products, business practices, and strategies that create value.

It's a meaningful distinction because creativity needs to be translated into something concrete for it to generate value. Protecting and nurturing new ideas, and bringing them to fruition, is the basis of innovation. That innovation takes place in and through organizations making it more complex.

Leaders of organizations of all sizes and types hope to encourage creativity in their employees. Eliciting creative and innovative ideas within a group, team, or organization has become a crucial skill. The ability of leaders to nurture and protect new ideas is vital to the health of the organization.

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