Your Company's Brain Drain

"And even though surveys show that 70% to 80% of executives at big companies are concerned about the coming brain drain, fewer than 20% have begun to do anything about it. Even within that small forward-looking cadre, many seem to be counting mainly on enticing older workers to stay longer than they have to, or to "consult" after they retire."

Fortune Magazine put together an interesting article on the pending brain drain within Corporate America. The quote from the article tends to say it all. I've said for the past few years that we are doing a terrible job at planning...specifically at succession planning. There are companies that "get it" and are working on the transfer of knowledge, but many aren't even trying.

...Michael

Michael T. Bauer, MSW is the President and Chief Creative Officer of Innovative Business Resources, LLC, a management consulting firm that focuses on helping organizations align their leadership and culture with their business strategy.

Michael is the publisher of the Creative Edge Newsletter.

Drinking, Drug Use, and Lost Productivity

Did you read the USA Today's lead artice on families and addiction to alcohol or drugs. USA Today's poll discovered that 1 in 5 adults have a close relative that was or is addicted to alcohol or drugs. I don't find this particularly shocking because for the past 15 or so years I've worked with hundreds of alchol and drug addicted individuals. I've worked with individuals addicted to alcohol, cocaine, heroine, pain medications, and to many other things. The USA Today poll also found out that US Women bear the brunt of the problems caused by relatives alcohol or drug abuse. They have to take care of the children, find additional employment, and keep things together. This makes sense to me, but don't forget that there are women who are also addicted and the cost is just as staggering, especially when mothers aren't available because they are too busy using.

Now...where the article ends is where I will make my final comments. The article doesn't specifically address the numbers of addicted individuals in the workplace...but if 1 out 5 adults have a close relative that is or was addicted...then we can make some generalizations that many of them were or are in the workplace. I've worked with the executives, managers, sales representatives and the consultants who had problems with alcohol and drugs...not to mention depression, anxiety, and a host of other issues. It takes away the ability to be creative and productive in any career. It remains a health and safety issue for all employers, for all organizations, and for all families.

...Michael

Michael T. Bauer, MSW is the President and Chief Creative Officer of Innovative Business Resources, LLC, a management consulting firm that focuses on helping organizations align their leadership and culture with their business strategy.

Michael is the publisher of the Creative Edge Newsletter.

Innovation Killers

I just finished reading through a list of "Innovation Killers" written by Sue McPhail and posted at Innovate Daily. What I love about Sue's writing is that it is freshingly simple and straightforward. She has lots of twists and angles to her thinking and it pushed me to expand my view.

Here is one of her Ten Innovation Killers...and one of my favorites:

The "worldwide shortage of ideas"Fearful that they'll never have another idea as good as this one, many people keep their idea to themselves for fear that it will be stolen and they won't receive acknowledgement. The truth is, the more ideas you have, the more ideas you'll have. You've got to prime the pump and leave the faucet on."

I've seen happen so many times in different companies that I've worked for. Great people with great ideas get stopped in their tracks and decide not share them anymore. It happens and it comes back to having good management in place to welcome and recognize good ideas.

...Michael

Michael T. Bauer, MSW is the President and Chief Creative Officer of Innovative Business Resources, LLC, a management consulting firm that focuses on helping organizations align their leadership and culture with their business strategy.

Michael is the publisher of the Creative Edge Newsletter.

A Corporate Mission Statement

I read a very interesting article this morning in the USA Today. It was an interview with Robert Nardelli, CEO of Home Depot. He became the CEO of Home Depot in 2000, after having a successful career with GE Powersystems. The article provided a glimpse of the philosophy being developed at Home Depot. One of the paragraphs focused on their new mission statement "Improve Everything You Touch." I've seen many mission statements but this one is great. Simple and to the point. It connected with me as I suspect it does with everyone employed at Home Depot. If only other companies could find ways to create mission statements that are easy to remember and simply states what they want to do.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com/ote

Healthcare and Innovation

It's about time that I post something new. I returned from my camping trip all refreshed and ready to work on new projects. Then I came across an article that just caught me...because I've worked within the healthcare system for so long. The article was a question and answer column by Harvard Business Review. They interveiwed HBS Professor Michael E Porter on his research and his new book "Redefining Health Care: Creating Value-Based Competition on Results."

Professor Porter stated:

"One of the central themes of our book is that the way to drive down costs in healthcare is to drive up quality. That is the dynamic we have to harness. And in order to drive up quality, there is only one way that will work: We have to measure results. And in order to use results to drive quality, we have to create competition on results at the medical-condition level."

And in respect to universal healthcare, he said:

"We have to get them insured. Universal insurance is not simply fair; it is also the only way to truly achieve a high value system. The United States already provides emergency and acute care for the uninsured, but we go about it in the worst way imaginable. We avoid the most cost effective spending, which is in primary care and preventative care. We treat the uninsured only after they get sick, and in expensive settings, and we already pay for this. This is paid for with cross subsidies and charity."

If there was ever a business that needed true innovation, it is healthcare. Take a look at the article and let me know what you think. This is a debate that needs solutions...very good solutions.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com/ote

Camping, Hiking, and an Inspirational Poem

Well, I thought I needed to write one more post before taking off on a short vacation..four days of camping with some very good friends. We will have a great time even if it rains - and it usually does rain.

It will also give me an opportunity to hike longer steeper hills. In less than a month my son and I will be heading to New Mexico for 10 days of hiking in the mountains. I've been training for about a week...hiking with a backpack on for over an hour per day.

I thought I'd leave you with a short poem that I discovered a few months ago.

I WILL DO MORE
I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And what I can do, I ought to do.
And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.
I will do more than belong...I will participate.
I will do more than care...I will help.
I will do more than believe...I will practice.
I will do more than be fair...I will be kind.
I will do more than dream...I will work.
I will do more than teach...I will inspire.
I will do more than earn...I will enrich.
I will do more than give...I will serve.
I will do more than live...I will grow.
I will do more than talk...I will act.

I will be more than good...I will be good for something.

-Anonymous

Michael T. Bauer

http://www.creativeleading.com/ote

Accidents and Innovation???

Did you have time to read the newest HBR Working Knowledge article. It's titled " The Accidental Innovator" and it highlights a recent paper authored by Robert Austin and Lee Devin. They explore the concept of accidental innovation. As you would suspect, many discoveries and inventions were connected to an accident of some type, such as breakage or spillage of something important. This unintended action led to some surprising outcomes.

The article includes examples of items that were developed in part as a result of an accident. They include: cellophane, cornflakes, dynamite, the ice cream soda, Ivory soap, NutraSweet, penicillin, photography, and the small pox vaccine. The list is larger...but this still gives you a great perspective.

In review, it seems that sometimes the unexpected (accidents) can lead to great outcomes, while other times highly controlled, scientific approaches are just as successful. Therefore, the process of developing new innovations is important to understand. If you strongly believe in a scientific process then you will design a discovery method based on that. However, if you believe that the unexpected can influence design, then you might want to build into your innovation process a way to create an "accident" and explore the outcomes.

Take a look at this facinating article when you have time.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com/ote

Seven Ideas To Boost Innovation

Here's another seven ideas to help transform your organization into one that is more creative and innovative. This one comes from John Winsors blog...so be sure to check it out...it has some wonderful points and it's based on an interview with a CEO that is known for his creative thinking. The seven ideas are:

Focus On The Work
Be Honest
Remove Barriers
Develop a Broad Corporate Vision
Co-Create With Your Competitors
Spend Time With Your Teammates
Live Your Products

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com/ote

Nine Rules Of Innovation

There was a facinating posting over at Innovation Tools Blog that highlighted Google's Nine Principles of Innovation. The discussion itself was based on an online video in which Marissa Meyer, VP at Google, defines the principles they work from. Consider your organization's rules of innovation...do they compare to those at Google. Here's their list, with additional comments from me:

1. Ideas come from everywhere
I couldn't agree more with this statement yet we seem to lock ourselves into patterns that suggest otherwise. We need to stay open to new ideas.

2. Cheer everything you can
We all strive for more when we are recognized. Be a great cheerleader for your team and watch them react positively.

3. You're brilliant, we're hiring
There are many brilliant individuals in the world, but we have to be wiling to look in all areas. I see to many organizations that have a very narrow view and miss out on exciting people with incredible potential.

4. A license to pursue dreams
My personal favorite on this list. Work for me and you have a license to pursue your dreams.

5. Innovation, not instant perfection
I use three words to describe my work...creativity, innovation, and transformation. Instant perfection isn't included.

6. Data is apolitical
Nothing more to say here.

7. Creativity loves constraints
I always need to know where the limits are...as long as they are appropriate limits.

8. It's users, not money
The customer comes first, then the profits. Employees also need to come before profits.

9. Don't kill projects, morph them
Do you want to see transformation in action. Then don't kill a project, let it grow into something worthwhile.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com/ote

A July 4th Parade...Time To Bring Out The Streamers

I went to our local July 4th Parade in Menomonee Falls, but here it
occurs on the evening of July 3rd. I consider myself a patriotic type of
person. I support the work of our troops...even had an opportunity to
work with them. And I love our Country. But I didn't enjoy this parade.
The first 15 minutes was focused on recognizing our Veterans...and
then it became one big advertising opportunity. The MF Optimist
Club sponsors the parade and they are a wonderful group. But this
parade had 14 politicians waving, saying hello, and handing out flyers.
There are a number of significant political races developing in
Wisconsin...Governor, Attorney General, Local District Attorney,
Local County Sheriff. But I didn't come to a parade to have contact
with politicians seeking office. I would have been fine if a couple local
leaders were involved, but there were too many "hopeful" candidates
and their teams trying to gain "my" vote. Then there were the
numerous entries that just mounted to a giant advertisement for
windows, dance companies, vacation bible school, and environmental
friendly "stuff." There weren't enough bands...where were the
bagpipe players, where were other things that could represent the
holiday. I remember the parade when I was maybe 12 years old...the
village had a bike decorating contest and my younger brother won a
prize. Everyone that had a decorated bike could ride in the parade.
And where were the flags...we use to have someone handing out
flags...yes it gets expensive...but it means something to hold onto the
American Flag during the parade. Maybe....I miss the parades when I
was younger...in rural Wisconsin...10-12 tractors were the normal
amount...followed by the tractor pull and a huge softball tournament.

Oh well...maybe next year we'll be more creative...and more
respectful of the holiday. Or maybe next year I will decorate my old
10 speed Schwinn with red, white, and blue streamers and ribbons
and enter the parade.

Michael T. Bauer
http://www.creativeleading.com/ote