2 Keys to Driving Innovation Using a CEO Mindset

Leveraging the principles of the CEO mindset can unlock potential and enable individuals and teams to drive massive innovation. I’ve shared previously that the first two steps—Know Your Purpose and Be Passionate—are foundational to the entire mindset.?

As you dig into what it means to Be Your Own CEO in the day-to-day aspects of your role, the next two are also critical to your success: Be Disciplined and Let Others Lead.?

There’s a saying that goes, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” As I’ve witnessed and worked alongside CEOs throughout my career, I’ve learned that no one is free of constraints and no one is an expert in everything—not even the top leaders of a company.

Resisting the false promise of full independence, great CEOs embrace constraints and welcome the opportunity to let others take the lead and grow in their careers. As a result, they create a disciplined environment where their teams are empowered to own their actions and learn new skills.

Let’s take a closer look at how you can bring each of these steps to life in any role you are in.

Be Disciplined

Discipline in the workplace involves qualities like resilience, self-control, the ability to learn from mistakes, and establishing methodical processes and habits. It can also feel like a paradox, where acknowledging that you have constraints can actually lead to more freedom.?

Many folks stress over their constraints—budget, time, personnel, resources, working environment, decision-making power, etc. They’re always working toward the next big promotion or high-profile role because they expect their current limitations will eventually dissolve and they will have unlimited independence.?

But as I’ve stated, whether you are brand new to an entry level position or among the senior leaders within your company, constraints never go away, they just change. In fact, the higher you rise in your career, chances are that you’ll face more of them, not fewer.?

Rather than unlimited independence, CEOs champion self-rule. Self-rule means that you understand your constraints, and feel empowered to make decisions within those guardrails. It also means that you have the sound judgment and maturity to recognize when you need to escalate.

Ultimately, a CEO realizes that you can achieve greater success and freedom if you have the discipline to focus your time and attention on long-term goals, while learning from and innovating within your constraints.?

At Capital One, we work to create disciplined processes that enable associates to own their actions within their guardrails. Every associate in the company—including myself—has limitations. But using this principle, we drive amazing innovation and deliver magical experiences for customers.?

Let Others Lead

Adopting the CEO mindset requires accepting that you can’t do everything alone and it takes every person on the team to win. Great leadership is often demonstrated by giving others the opportunity to lead—whether that person is a peer, a superior or a direct report.?

Sometimes the biggest constraint you face is your own knowledge. However, successful CEOs know they aren’t always the expert. They have the awareness to take a back seat, let others showcase their talent and learn from their colleague’s area of expertise. In short, they believe in another important mindset: the growth mindset.

A growth mindset is the belief that individuals develop abilities through continual learning and stepping outside their comfort zone to try new things and see failures as opportunities to improve. This is in contrast to a “fixed mindset,” which is the belief that individuals have a certain set of abilities that are unlikely to change.

This perspective is incredibly important to the success of your team and business. Studies show that a growth mindset helps companies become more adaptive, allows employees to see their potential and fosters a culture of innovation and learning.

At Capital One, continuous improvement and growth is part of our DNA. In whatever role you are in, you can let others provide their vantage point on your work, learn new skills and take the lead on ideas. No one can predict exactly what the future will hold for their business. But we’ve found that leaning heavily into this principle has made our teams even more nimble and future-ready.

Imagine the collaboration, teamwork and innovation that could happen if everyone in your company embraces this step!?

Take the Journey Together

Like all of the steps to Be Your Own CEO, these take time to implement. I encourage you to keep pressing forward, partner with colleagues who are on this journey and seek out others who embody this mindset for tips and insights.?

How are you working to Be Disciplined and Let Others Lead? I’d love to hear about how you use these principles.