Blog
In these posts I try and challenge, stretch and inspire new ideas & conversations.
A simple, practical innovation definition
Innovation We all know what it means. Or at least that is what leaders say. But dig a bit deeper and you find a wide discrepancy between them. For some it is new products or large technological breakthroughs or something like continuous improvement. The reason it...
What do leaders ‘think, feel and do’ about innovation?
I recently gave a workshop to a leadership group at a big hotel group. One of the questions I asked them was: What do they 'think, feel and do' about innovation? Think about innovation This was easy. The leadership group used words like essential, vital and important....
small wins innovation is here
We have just launched a new beta site on small wins innovation. The new site is filled with examples of small wins innovation, the 5 step process and principles. The 5 steps are - create, test, measure, learn and share. Ideas Blitz is wonderful tool to create new...
4 ways leaders can nudge behaviour
How leaders can Nudge behaviour I have just been reading NUDGE, a book by Richard H Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein. As the name applies, the book outlines new thinking and concepts in behavioural economics which can be applied to many everyday situations to Nudge desired...
6 ways to sell your new ideas with greater success
I have presented and been on the receiving end of countless presentations of new ideas. Here are my 6 tips on how to help you sell your ideas with more success. 1. Present a usual idea, a different and a radical option. Using this framework gives the receiver or...
Are you a creator, enhancer or judger?
The 3 key roles in any innovative team In my experience working with creative or innovative groups or teams there are 3 key roles. Each is important. The 3 roles are -- a creator, enhancer and judger. One without the other will mean smaller ideas or plenty of blue-sky...
What are the pros & cons of using an external workshop facilitator?
Some key learnings as a workshop facilitator Over the past 10 years I have designed and facilitated numerous ideation, brainstorming, strategy and planning sessions. In all but one occasion* I added significant value. But someone asked me the other day why and when...
What leaders can learn from the Ryder Cup
A tale of two different leaders In case you have missed it the Golf Ryder Cup has just finished. It is a regular competition among the best male players in the US competing against the pros from Europe. Europe won convincingly. There is no doubt that the European...
The 5 steps small wins innovation process
Now there is an alternative to the stage-gate innovation process For too long anyone in an organisation that wanted to innovate had to use the stage-gate process. Whilst this process has many advantages for large innovation projects e.g. structured, formal and...