Companies say they want to build a culture of innovation, but saying and actually doing are two different things. Those that are serious should take note of the recently released innovation blueprint developed by the ecosystem at the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Opinions vary about what qualifies as appropriate office attire, though the preponderance of opinion is toward the informal and casual, at least for technical professionals. But it can be difficult to determine what's acceptable, depending on the office—and for the always ambiguous "casual Fridays."

Fear of failure can hold you back from learning and creating new things. Conversely, creating an environment where it’s safe to fail shows that progress toward mastery is just as important as achieving mastery. A leader who encourages failing fast will have a team where everyone is performing at their best.