Blog
In these posts I try and challenge, stretch and inspire new ideas & conversations.
The Yin and Yang of Innovation
I love Chinese Martial Arts and its philosophy. The simplicity of Yin and Yang And the symbol of Yin and Yang is a beautiful, visual expression of the idea of holding two, sometime competing forces into one is a compelling one and often at odds with the more linear...
Do we need a new language of innovation?
I was rereading a 2012 innovation report by Accenture and I was struck by the language of the recommendations. The writers of the report found: - Among 500 respondents (i.e. leaders in large organisations) 93% of them believe innovation is important to their long-term...
Innovation training- where to start?
I have conducted numerous innovation training sessions over the years and there are few principles i tend to follow. 1. Ask for volunteers Like any subject it is difficult to force people to be innovative, particularly if they do not want to be there in the first...
Changing culture one win at a time
Change is hard. Particularly if you are trying to change an entire culture. It seems to me that you have two options -- you can force change or try and engage others in making a change. Forcing change is sometimes necessary but rarely sustainable e.g. you go to the...
The potential of small wins to make big changes
About 8 years ago I started learning Shaolin Kung Fu. I was amazed at what my Shifu Brett Russell could do -- knuckle drops on the floor, amazing powerful kicks and having his chest smashed by a bamboo pole without seemingly any effects. As a middle-age man I was...
Small wins innovation – a potential big idea!
I like many other have been captivated by the stories of the big innovators and the game-changing, disruptive products, services and business models. But from my experience there are many downsides to focussing on this approach which we sometimes forget to mention. As...
How to anticipate your competitors next move
I was a former marketing director at American Express and every year every product or brand manager completed their marketing plans with a section titled Competitive Analysis. In my years as a facilitator i have seen this process repeated again and again. This is a...
How to improve your customer retention
For too long marketing and advertising has concentrated on acquiring new customers. I can understand this. When I was marketing director at American Express it was my prime responsibility. It was fun, sexy and easily measured. It was how careers were made....
How to unlock new revenue growth opportunities
Generating profitable and sustainable revenue growth is difficult. It often requires challenging what has worked in the past. And thinking about markets, products and business models in new ways. It often will mean using a new process that is outside the usual...