Executives & Entrepreneurs Need to Innovate AND Execute

Someone who can innovate and execute is indispensable to employers and is often a skill that leads to entrepreneurial success according to an article by Jonathan Fields (click to read his blog post on the subject).

Here’s an excerpt from the post:

“Truth be told, though, there’s one person who’s even more valuable than the pure creator/problem-solver. And, that’s the Creator-Operator—the individual who can not only create anew, solve problems and map out innovative pathways, but also possesses the ability to execute, to bring those plans to life. People who can do both are extraordinarily rare finds, because creation and implementation are very different processes and almost always inhabit different brains and bodies, too. Most peoples’ minds just don’t function well on both levels. Which is why those folks tend to rise quickly up the ranks and often become entrepreneurs.”

These rare finds are also challenges for coaches.  Have you had the opportunity to coach or mentor a Creator-Operator?  What approach did you use to help these talented people develop?