THE INNOVATIVE LEADER ACCORDING TO THE PERCEPTION OF MIDDLE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The role of a leader is a key factor for successful innovation in an organization, and the perception of followers with respect to the traits linked to an innovative profile of their leader can act as a driving factor for innovation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of an innovative leader as perceived of middle managers in organizations considered innovative in Santa Catarina. Furthermore the study sought to determine whether the respondents perceive their principal manager as an innovative leader.   The assumption of leadership being a social and relational process emphasizes the importance of the perception of the manager of the intermediate level in relation to the primary leader, because this influences the way the former will conduct himself in his role as leader. The results show that behavioral manners of innovative leaders, as reported in literature, are perceived to be very important, and even to be indispensable for managing an innovative organization. Although the results cannot be generalized, the study contributes to emphasize the importance of the perception of followers with respect to their leader, and so confirming that some leadership characteristics can be associated with the innovative leader.