The purpose of the current essay is to consider the influence that the hierarchical form of leadership has on the ability to innovate within an organization. Organizational leadership sets the direction that steers innovation. Leadership facilitates the collaborative efforts of a diverse group of individuals. Leadership also provides the support and resources necessary to implement innovative initiatives successfully. The leadership develops the culture that can either help or hinder innovation. A culture that supports innovation emphasizes learning, experimenting, diversity, and collaboration. Leadership encourages either a mindset of collaboration or that of competition. Ideas and problems should be challenged in positive, collaborative ways rather than by competitive methods. Individuals in a position of authority must understand the impact that their support and access to resources have on the process of innovation. Such an understanding will allow leadership to focus their energy on providing a clear direction and sharing information, supporting implementation, building an innovative culture, and developing an organizational mindset of collaboration not competition.