Interprofessional team collaboration (ITC) and innovative work behavior (IWB) are complementary competencies that enhance patient safety in perioperative care. However, evidence on whether specific dimensions of collaboration differentially predict specific stages of innovation among anesthesia professionals remains limited, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This cross-sectional study included 202 anesthesia professionals from seven public hospitals in Southern Iraq. Data were collected using the AITCS-II and Janssen's IWB scale. Three separate multiple linear regression models examined the predictive role of interprofessional team collaboration dimensions (partnership, cooperation, coordination) on innovative work behavior sub-dimensions (idea generation, idea promotion, idea realization). Participants reported high levels of interprofessional team collaboration and innovative work behavior. Idea Generation scored highest (M = 4.20), followed by idea realization (M = 4.12) and idea promotion (M = 4.05), with the difference between idea generation and idea promotion reaching statistical significance (p = 0.002). Coordination was the only dimension that significantly predicted all three IWB sub-dimensions (β = 0.224–0.455). Cooperation significantly predicted Idea Promotion (β = 0.213, p = 0.045) but not idea generation or idea realization. Partnership significantly predicted Idea Realization (β = 0.224, p = 0.015) but not idea generation or idea promotion. In conclusion, interprofessional collaboration dimensions differentially predict innovation stages among anesthesia professionals. Coordination serves as the foundational mechanism across all stages, while cooperation specifically facilitates idea promotion and partnership facilitates idea realization. Strengthening structured coordination mechanisms offers a feasible, low-cost strategy to foster innovation in resource-constrained healthcare settings.