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John Winsor recently published in his blog an interesting list of ideas to create innovative environments within the workplace. It deserved to be referenced and reviewed by others. Here is a summary of the points he makes. - Create SWAT Teams and insulate them from the daily grind and demands of the business.
- Team chemistry is so very important so bring together a group of personalities that can work together, not compete against one another.
- Constantly experiment with the teams that you develop. It makes sense to create teams that fit the situation. Bring together different people until you find the one that pushes the envelope.
- Search for balance between structure and creativity. It's important to remain flexible, changing patterns to keep people energized and focused, but there also needs to be some structure and order.
Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com
I spend time every week searching for information, thoughts, whitepapers, anything about creativity and innovation within the workplace, with leaders, and in developing new products. Once in while I come across something that makes me laugh and take notice. I want to tell you about this one. If you have a friend who is a lawyer...then this will be the perfect gift. Now, please don't throw tomatoes at me for posting something humorous about the legal profession. If you want the perfect gift, you need to go to the Billable Hour and purchase a watch or clock. What's different...the watch is divided so you can determine your billable hours. And the watches and clocks are designed by a lawyer. By the way, don't forget to sign up for their newsletter...the Timesheet! Fun!!!
Michael T. Bauerhttp://www.creativeleading.com
Business 2.0 has published its list of the dumbest moments in business in 2005. I took a few minutes to read through many of the items...and laughed hard at a few of them. We look for organizations to be creative because with creativity comes new product designs, improved operations, and ultimately more profits. But sometimes we find mistakes too. Here are two of my favorites on the list...
In July 2005, the founder of a physicians' answering service in N.Y., was charged with computer tampering. It seems that he was able to hack into a competitors system. Patients trying to reach their doctors were greeted with busy signals or the sounds of sexual moaning. Want to read the posting...it's #11 on the list.
Or how about #68...a turnaround specialist has to leave because of his own policies. It seems that the CEO of Boeing, brought out of retirement to help return a sense of ethics and values back to the company, is forced to resign because of allegations of an affair with a female employee. The CEO had violated a code of conduct that all employees were required to sign. It appears that the code of conduct was designed because the prior CEO was accused of having affairs with female employees too. You can read more about this and more at Business 2.0.
Who will be creatively dumb in 2006? I can't wait to find out.
Michael Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com
I've become a huge fan of the writing style and quirks of marketing expert Seth Godin because he forces me to examine my world from multiple angles. He has the ability to challenge current thoughts and suggest new perspectives. I've read all of his books. Now that is dedication. Plus I continue to follow some of the work he's involved in.
One of my favorites is the website Change This. Godin helped start it and now it has a life of its own. I love the manifestos that are available at this site. The are written by very creative authors who know how to challenge assumptions, beliefs, and attitudes about life. These manifestos are just fun to read. For example, check out the "Escape Adulthood" manifesto. It is written by Jason Kotecki who says "Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them." I ran across his work, decided to download his manifesto and then went and looked at his website...there is something really "cool" about being a child in an adult body. Check out his work at kimandjason.com.
Michael Bauerhttp://www.creativeleading.com
This is the final post in the Creating Innovation Series. I have a few more points that Sutton wrote about in his book, "Weird Ideas That Work." His book explores how to promote and sustain innovation. So, here are the remaining ideas: - Reward success and failure, and punish inaction.
- Decide to do something that will probably fail, then convince yourself and everyone else that success is certain.
- Think of some ridiculous things to do, then plan to do them.
- Avoid, distract, and bore customers, critics, and anyone who just wants to talk about money.
- Don't try to learn anything from people who say they have solved the problems you face.
- Forget the past, especially your companies successes.
Now you have the blueprint to developing an innovative environment. Grab the book and learn more about the details.
Michael Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com
It's late on Monday, the night before Valentine's Day, and I'm sitting here thinking about how I will show my love for my wife and son. But I realize that there are many other people that I need to show my love for. So, let me pass on this small bit of wisdom...
I would like you to take time to think of every one you love, not just the person you may be intimately involved with. Those you love, also love you. You don't need to send them a dozen roses or diamonds and jewels because all they really need is simpler things in life. You can choose to be creative and honor them in many ways:
- Leave that unexpected "I miss talking with you" voicemail.
- Choose to wear something they gave you for Christmas.
- Keep a promise you made to them.
- Just hug them. This is one of my personal favorites!!!
- Do something for them that they hate to do themselves. Clean the dishes, do the wash, clean the bathroom...Do it without complaint and only with love.
- Ask for their advice...because they have some great ideas.
- Make a date to spend more time with them..Andd then do it.
- Pick up the phone and call your dad, you mom, your sister or brother, son or daughter, your friends....
- Slow down. Be patient. Truly treasure the moment because you won't have another one just like it.
- Open the door for them. The car door or the house door...or any door when they have their hands full.
- Let them go in first or last. Whatever they want is the right thing.
- Smile at them and laugh with them. Enjoy being with them.
- Be silly with them..And play with them.
- Write a poem or sing a song to them. Maybe even write and sing a song to them.
- Read them a story, and tuck them in. I'm a green eggs and ham fan. How about you?
- Watch their tv shows or listen to their music...even if they are teenagers.
- Write some words of love to them...something sweet always works.
- Say a prayer for them, and I will say one for you.
- Be happy...because more than anything they love to know you are happy too.
- ...and finally, don't expect anything in return. Just enjoy giving all day long and then, tomorrow, start doing it again.
And to my best friend.......Mary, I love you!!!
Happy Valentines Day!
Michael Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com/ote
Chuck Frey at Innovation Tools posed a great question to his readers..."What is the most important lessons learned regarding innovation, creativity, or brainstorming in 2005?" The answers are posted here at Innovation Tools.I hope this stimulates some new ideas.-Michael Bauer http://www.creativeleading.com
I just finished reading Weird Ideas That Work by Robert Sutton. I thought I would post 1/2 of the ideas that the he suggests are important for sustaining innovation in an organization. - Hire "slow learners" in respect to organizational conduct and code.
- Hire people you find uncomfortable or even people you don't like.
- Use job interviews to get ideas, not to screen candidates.
- Encourage people to ignore and defy superiors and peers.
- Find some happy people and get them to fight.
I know what your thinking, there is no way in the world you would want to do all of these things because they all have possible risks. To be an innovative organization, you need to be willing to experiment and take the risks. You need to have employees that have the permission to look at situations in many different ways. To quote Thomas Edison, " To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk." I love that quote! Let me know what you think of these ideas. I will post the second set sometime next week.
- Michael Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com
I am always looking for great ways to keep up on the current business related books. It can be a very difficult task. Well, I came across a very interesting way to read book summaries. There is a website where you can go and purchase business book summaries in mind map format. I wasn't sure what to think about this new idea, so I downloaded the free summary offered on the site and I must say I was impressed with the way the information was layed out. It took some getting use to, but I think it was a useful way to pass on the information. I liked it because I like to scan for useful information before digging deeper into a book. Check out the mindmap summaries.
-Michael Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com
It's been a while since my last post...so I hope that you missed hearing from me. As I promised a few months ago...I would give a "shout-out" to the group at inbubblewrap every time I won a free book. Well...it's now the second time and the book I received is titled "Weird Ideas that Work" by Robert Sutton. I didn't know what to expect from the book, but now that I am 3/4 of the way through it I need time to reflect on the many ideas that it generated. One of Sutton's statements is that "Creative companies and teams are inefficient (and often annoying) places to work." His point seems to be that innovation grows in environments where there is freedom to try new things and be different. How is innovation embraced in your work environment? I would love to hear about your experiences.
