I attended a workshop recently that stressed the importance of innovation in the workplace. The speaker made a lot of sense and pointed to examples of hugely successful companies that flourish because of their openness to ideas and collaborative work culture. Then I returned to work the next day, to the reality of an environment that is the complete opposite of these ideals – where obeisance to bureaucracy and keeping one’s head down are the only ways to succeed. Is there any way an individual employee can change that mindset?