Category Archives: INNOVATION NOW
TRIPLE III TIME: Creativity “Fertilizer”
Have you ever heard or thought about the priceless value of spreading Creativity “Fertilizer” in your home…workplace…community? This notion may sound odd and a little bit “out-there”…but consider the progressive impacts this type of activity can produce.
First think about the fact that most people really like becoming engaged with creative people. Whether it’s the positive energy, thinking beyond the norm, and/or just the “dream-ability” that results from an open, blended discussion.
But what do I mean by spreading Creativity “Fertilizer”? Here are a few examples:
Writing down a fun single word on the breakroom board and asking for cool thoughts from co-workers.- Setting 15 minutes aside every other day to just visit with a co-worker about “what-else” your group could initiate.
- Having an IDEA DROP-BOX in your workplace…for everyone.
- Including a Creativity & Innovation time on every meeting agenda.
- Sending out a monthly message to friends and colleagues asking for them “sprinkle” a little Creativity “Fertilizer” in their workplaces.
- Occasionally bringing in a professional person…not connected to your workplace and asking them to share thoughts about creativity in their world.
I believe it is critical for everyone to spread a little Creativity “Fertilizer” from time-to-time. It is a solid professional development habit and it makes innovative thoughts and actions contagious!
TRIPLE III TIME: Check Out the Competition
One of the main discussion points with every attempt at spearheading an innovative initiative is to Check Out The Competition! You know “the drill”. Is someone or another company already doing what you are thinking of trying? Is your proposed new product or service already out there and is it successful? Is there a design or option that is very similar to your innovation and therefore would it be best to just replicate their initiative/product/service?
Well let me be clear that when you are considering an alternative innovative strategy…it is very important to Check Out The Competition. However, for this TRIPLE III TIME message, I want you to also consider INNOVATION TRANSFERABILITY. What do I mean? Let’s say if you work in a public service area…don’t be afraid to transfer your service design to one utilized by the fast-food industry (i.e. Meal-Deal model). Or if a unique customer service approach is successful in a community development situation…why not try it in an auto repair setting. Or if a creative social media advertisement design works well for selling the latest salsa recipe…why not try using it to market customized job training in your area?
During my career of pushing public sector innovation every chance I got, applying INNOVATION TRANSFERABILITY has been a solid tool everyday…every time. When you Check Out The Competition and observe a new successful approach to public or private sector product/service delivery…always…ALWAYS consider the potential of INNOVATION TRANSFERABILITY! Great ideas are often not recognized for their easy application in new areas and non-traditional ways. Only when you appropriately Check Out The Competition and apply INNOVATION TRANSFERABILITY…do you see the new opportunities.
TRIPLE III TIME: 21st Century “EVAL-CULATIONS”
One of my regular targets for “change-action” is applying imagination to the traditional standards of measuring success and considering a Return-On-Investment. It is always easier to take out the OLD performance standards and/or fiscal “cost-per” measurements and declare a program, service or product a success or failure. But what about measuring a continuous improvement action/training? Is it a standard business procedure to re-gather affected staff to determine the minimum or maximum effectiveness of a continuous improvement initiative? Or is just offering the initiative and having everyone attend the measure of success?
Well because change, innovation and dollars all deserve “equal time” as progress and quality factors, consider these TOP 10 “What Aren’t We Seeing?” EVAL-CULATIONS! (Yes it’s a new word!) as you consider the value of your continuous improvement efforts:
- Did organizational leadership revisit the trainees and ask them “What’s the 1 THING you learned?”
- How many other colleagues did you share your positive learning experience with?
- Did the organization’s action/training prompt you to meet one-on-one with co-workers to consider a more progressive change?
- How many attendees expressed a “Something To Look Forward To!” attitude following the continuous improvement action/training?
- Was it possible to calculate the number of “spin-off” ideas that resulted?
- In follow-up discussions…did attendees appear to improve their ability to prioritize?
- Did the organization’s action/training generate increased/quality internal/external communication?
- How many attendees “stepped-up” to be more involved in future actions?
- Is it possible to witness personnel re-looking at past evaluation approaches and considering new, innovation-based designs?
- If our goal is to be better and special…as organizations, businesses, and workers…shouldn’t we try to use unique 21st Century EVAL-CULATIONS as new criteria?
Don’t ever be afraid of or limit the way you look at the value of initiatives. Better and Special deserve an always changing, always innovative measuring stick…plus it often causes FUN to be infused into your daily work.
TRIPLE III TIME: STAR TREKING Public Workforce Management
This week’s TRIPLE III TIME message is my guest author article submission to the American Society For Public Administration PATIMES online news-piece. The article: STAR TREKING Public Workforce Management, recommends including exclusive wording in legislation which takes a “future-ish” position and strongly encourages flexibility, adaptability and yes…INNOVATION to stay more relative to current/future public service trends.
I hope you enjoy my thoughts and ideas.
TRIPLE III TIME: The Pain of Change
We haven’t specifically talked about The Pain of Change for a while. It is true that often in TRIPLE III TIME messages there is a hint of a change pain that comes from innovative activity, leadership decisions, communication challenges and/or just plain personal/professional growth. Hopefully the pains should not come as a surprise…but today lets talk about the pain particulars and potential “remedies”.
Are you ready?
First let me be clear that my area of change pain specialization is NOT centered in the lower “back-side” of your body. Second, if your change pains are directly centered in your head…almost migraine-like, then aspirin, Motrin or a visit to your real doctor may be the only answer. However, if The Pain of Change you feel is a unique “hunger-pain” that has many of the following symptoms:
- A sensation that something is missing.
- A consistent need for more
- There is a regular hunger to try something new/different…possibly innovative.
- That you experience a regular, sharp, nagging, disappointment-driven pain…when change doesn’t happen.
- Or The Pain of Change hunger does NOT subside until old mind muscles are pushed to work in new ways.
Dinosaurs became extinct because they couldn’t deal with The Pain of Change! Today more than ever before we all need to accept that personal and professional change is a daily life/work function and you can only remedy it’s pain with a “BRING IT ON!” attitude. Additionally, as part of the cure process one should regularly “LFA” (Lead-Frog-Ahead) of the change pain and position yourself in a new trend-setting area that directs the change pain…rather than be held hostage by it. Finally, I believe the ultimate answer to eliminate The Pain of Change disease…is to become a CHANGE AGENT. As a CHANGE AGENT you become the driver/controller of change in and around you…and creatively The Pain of Change hunger is satisfied.
TRIPLE III TIME: A Special Innovation
Several times over the past few years the suggested quarterly American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) topic for guest columnists has had special meaning to me. In light of the fact that one of my sons recently joined the Army Reserve and completed basic training this summer, I thought maybe I could offer an article that would contain an idea for the military to consider. Check it out! http://patimes.org/testimonial-recruitment-units-trus-special-military-recruiting-teams/
TRIPLE III TIME: What Is A “Culture” of Entrepreneurship & Innovation?
Over the last few months I have been privileged to work with a fun, down-to-earth group who very much want to develop their area community. By develop I mean: (1) the total community as a great place to live, (2) the business arena to expand employment opportunities, (3) the enhancement of education possibilities at all levels and (4) the interest in entrepreneurship. Yes, it is a large challenge…but focusing on only one area at a time…just does not seem effective or efficient.
The “tool” we have developed to facilitate our initiative is an “IDEAS Guidebook”. In simple terms the IDEAS Guidebook walks people through the idea-to-concept-to-product/service process. It is a very inclusive document and has “IT MUST BE FUN!” as its core philosophy. But how is this part of the: What Is A “Culture” of Entrepreneurship & Innovation? TRIPLE III TIME message?
The answer is that when people ask what I am up to these days…I proudly respond that “I am growing a grass-roots Culture of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.” A culture that is based on ideas…ideas from anyone and everyone in the community. A culture that embraces a “partnerships unlimited” practice and a culture where age or status doesn’t matter.
Also when I brag about developing a Culture of Entrepreneurship and Innovation I report that community leaders understand that it (the Culture) must come from inside the community…and not expect culture building commitments from the outside. They also look at their IDEAS Guidebook not as a manual for guaranteed success…but rather a booklet that encourages continuous support for the generation of ideas no matter how big or small.
Remember an idea is only a thought until it is shared with others.
These actions I think are the foundation elements of creating a “Culture of Entrepreneurship and Innovation”. What do you think?
Inspiring Innovations, Inc. 