Great Innovators are often successful - Personal Drivers

Malcolm De Leo
Apr 15
4 min read

Personal Drivers are The Hidden Forces Behind Influence and Innovation

When it comes to influence, personal drivers are everything. They’re both visible and invisible—what you know and what you’ve done, but also who you know and how you connect with them. It’s both the tangible and the intangible. You need it all to be successfully influential.

At its core though, I always like to start with a few invisible, introspective questions:

How do you interact with others?
Do they understand how you like to create, produce, learn, and collaborate?
Do your styles overlap, or are you constantly working at odds?
Are you one of their “trusted advisers”?

Understanding your own wiring—and recognizing how it complements (or conflicts with) others—is a critical foundation of influence. Are you energized by people or by solitude? Do you favor the big picture or the gritty details? Are you the one jumping into action, or are you more cautious and deliberate?

These differences in approach matter. In fact, they often define whether someone “takes to you” or not. And let’s be real—if you can’t build trust, you can’t influence. Without trust, there can be no innovation.

As my good friend Robert Porter Lynch says, innovation thrives in a creationship—a powerful blend of trust, transparency, and collaboration. Great innovators know this. They’re not just aware of their own personal drivers; they can also sense when their energy doesn’t align with someone else’s—and either adapt, or bring in someone who fits better.

True partnership is about leveraging differences. Trusting each other’s strengths. Innovation is not a solo act, and I’ve seen (and proven to myself) time and time again: knowing what you don’t know, and finding someone who does—that’s not just smart. It’s essential.

Let’s break down the key personal drivers that fuel successful innovation:

1. A Successful Track Record

Nothing builds trust like experience. Data, gut, and execution all matter. When you’ve done something well before, people are more likely to bet on you again. But here’s the twist: it’s not just what you’ve done—it’s how.

Ever succeeded at something, only to have people still question your credibility? That’s because “track record” is sometimes filtered through their own lens. Maybe you didn’t do it the way they would. That’s why self-awareness is so important: you may think you’ve proven yourself, but have they bought into it?

One of my favorite stories on this is from my time working with a senior exec named John. I pitched a risky idea—using social media to gather real-time data to strengthen a major business case. He trusted me, not just because of my idea, but because we shared a similar innovation style. I delivered, the project worked, and that trust turned into a long-term friendship and professional alliance. That trust started with a track record—and a shared way of thinking.

2. Professional Credibility

This is about the tangible stuff. Your resume. Your certifications. Your domain expertise. It’s the stuff that gets you in the room. People listen because they see proof of performance in your field.

For me, my credibility comes from driving change, structuring innovation, and helping teams collaborate to make ideas real. I don’t try to innovate in legalese—I stay in my lane.

But if the legal world needed help reimagining how they generate ideas? Then I’m in.

Stick to your strengths, build a rep in that space, and your influence will grow from there.

3. Strong Allies and Relationships

Your network is one of your greatest assets. But it’s not just about who you know—it’s about how you know them.

Do they trust you? Do they see your value? Will they go to bat for you?

To build real influence, you need to show up for your network—especially when there’s nothing in it for you. Over the past few years, especially during tough times, I’ve made it a point to help people find jobs, make connections, and open doors—expecting nothing in return.

Not because I had a strategy, but because it’s the right thing to do. And yeah, it feels great. But I’ve also found that when I do need help down the road, those same people are there for me. Good networking isn’t transactional—it’s personal. It’s generous. And it’s the lifeblood of personal influence.

4. Finding an Innovation Kindred Spirit

This last one is a little abstract—but powerful. Sometimes you meet someone, and the connection is just there. Instant trust. Mutual understanding. Aligned vision.

This is what Porter Lynch calls a creationship—a space where collaboration is natural, easy, and incredibly effective.

I call it finding your innovation kindred spirit. And when you do, everything moves faster. Ideas take off. Execution is smoother. The creative flow just works.

If you’ve experienced this, you know how rare and special it is. When you find it—cherish it. Lean into it. Use it to push your ideas forward.

Final Thoughts

Personal drivers are the often invisible forces behind influence. They’re built from trust, shaped by credibility, and powered by relationships. The most successful innovators understand their own drivers—and just as importantly, they understand others’.

When you can align these forces, magic happens.

So ask yourself: