Ingenuity is quickly becoming one of the defining traits of next-generation leaders- and it matters most when conditions are less than ideal. 

In this episode, I focus on what it looks like to lead with ingenuity when the budget is tight, the timeline is tighter, and the expectations are still high.

I define ingenuity as creative problem-solving with what you have, resourceful, original, and useful. It’s not random creativity or “big ideas for the sake of big ideas.” It’s purpose-driven innovation that helps leaders solve new problems without waiting for permission, design better systems instead of simply working harder, and turn setbacks into strategic opportunities.

I also explore what happens when a team lacks ingenuity: they don’t bring solutions, they bring constraints. Leaders start hearing “We can’t because…” and “That won’t work…” and slowly become the department of answers.

 I explain how to stop rescuing and start training resourcefulness using simple coaching shifts, like requiring team members to bring options, not just obstacles. But she also emphasizes that ingenuity only grows in cultures with psychological safety, where people aren’t afraid to try, test, and learn without being punished for mistakes—or embarrassed for not being perfect.


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Chapters
00:00 — Welcome, Who I Help & Follow Reminder
00:24 — Why Ingenuity Matters for the Next Generation of Leaders
00:54 — What Ingenuity Really Is: Creative Problem Solving With What You Have
01:23 — Why CEOs Value Creativity and Ingenuity So Highly
01:49 — Let Your Constraints Inspire Creativity, Not Panic
02:48 — When Your Team Lacks Ingenuity and You Become the “Department of Answers”
03:40 — Coaching Resourcefulness: “Bring Me Two Possibilities for One Problem”
04:28 — Psychological Safety: Why Fear Kills Ingenuity
05:29 — Turning Constraints into Creative Team Discussions
06:14 — Building Ingenuity Through Safe Experiments, Reps, and Rewarding Attempts
07:08 — How Ingenuity Connects With Resilience, Perseverance, EQ, and Influence
08:01 — Weekly Challenge: Turn One Constraint into a Creative Conversation
08:25 — Outro & Invitation to the Supervisor Success Collective