Category Archives: Triple III
TRIPLE III TIME: An IDEAS “Scorecard”
This weekend on Saturday, June 20th, many partners and I will be facilitating the first ever: IMAGINE ME Youth Entrepreneurship FEST! It will be all about helping very young people: (1) have an exclusive marketplace for their products and services, (2) network with regional entrepreneurs who have been innovative and successful, and (3) finally but just as inspiring will be six (6) Ready-Set-Grow sessions that will offer simple learnings on multiple business-building topics.
It would be very insightful and satisfying to go into all the very cool experiences that have nurtured the creation of the FEST!… but today I want to talk about one special part of the event. The very first Ready-Set-Grow session is entitled: Just Ideas. And during its 30 minutes of leadership and engagement… concepts about and idea generation actions will be the prime areas of focus. But for this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message… I want to have everyone consider what might be discussed if the session introduced: An IDEAS “Scorecard”!
Think about it??
Maybe it might look like this:
Bottomline: In the most creative way… I think An IDEAS “Scorecard” score for someone’s entrepreneurial concept could prove invaluable going forward. And no I did not think about An IDEAS “Scorecard” during my early innovation days but it would be fun to know how many of my ideas would have scored!
TRIPLE III TIME: Don’t Decide For Someone
One of the toughest challenges for someone in a leadership position is having to decide who could do a job or perform a task best?! his challenge even shows up when you have to consider different organizations or businesses that would perform the best given a new project or contract… because the right decision is never totally about money or convenience. Interviews could be good or bad… input from others may be a benefit…but ultimately you have to choose?!
Oh yeah there is also one more concern: Don’t Decide For Someone.
What do I mean?
Unfortunately in my career there have been times when I DECDIED that a certain person or group wouldn’t be interested in the initiative I was trying to get going. And only later did I learn that a great candidate really was interested…and was professionally hurt because I did not give them any kind of chance to discuss the opportunity. The result was often a “not-so-ready” person was given the new assignment and did an OK job… but didn’t last. And the individual that cared a lot about our Agency’s progress and performance… no longer was available to restart my innovation.
Therefore, please make a note that one of the leadership lessons learned that I believe is critical to make progress happen… is: Don’t Decide For Someone. And here are a few ideas to consider:
- Look in all… even non-traditional areas for potential candidates.
- Don’t allow yourself to decide: “they really wouldn’t be interested in this.”
- Don’t place people in a specific category that limits their potential.
- ASK THEM about their interest and input.
- Finally, make your special assignment decisions only after you have completed a professionally comfortable, progressive review of available options.
Wishes for instant progress sometimes causes occupational blindness when trying to make the right decisions. Therefore, it is standardly appropriate to apply the: Don’t Decide For Someone professional approach… every time… EVERY TIME!
IMAGINE ME! Youth Entrepreneurship FEST
Saturday, June 20th, Inspiring Innovations, Inc. and Kids Rule Now Inc. will host our Youth Entrepreneurship Fest at Alpena Community College – Oscoda Campus! This one-day experience is designed to help young entrepreneurs ages 10-17 bring their business ideas to life. Click the link below for more information on donations and supporting the innovative youth in our community.
Support the IMAGINE ME! Youth Entrepreneurship Fest
IMAGINE ME Youth Vendor Registration (free!)
TRIPLE III TIME: You Can’t Command Innovation
Innovation has and always will be my favorite professional development priority everyday… EVERYDAY. Those who I have worked with and those who I have worked for in any professional capacity… know that I will encourage innovative activity be part of every employee and business/organization’s operational mentality… because it is a growth-necessary progress component.
Also during my work experiences one important related factor that I have learned over time is that: You Can’t Command Innovation. What am I saying?
I guess the point that I am making is that even if mandated by a single person most in charge… innovation… true/great innovation will not flourish via mandate. Likewise, if a single leader requires complete control on how… when and what innovation actions must occur… the growth will be minimal and disappointing.
Instead, if one were to introduce an engaged inter-active plan to include innovative ideals and thereby build a workforce with rigor and competence… a complete win-win situation would arise. And with this plan in mind… how about a special INNOVATION FOR TOMORROW…TOP 10 concepts to consider:
- Take the innovation responsibility personally and be an example.
- Allow and try newness in the workplace as a common practice.
- Encourage support for innovation ideas both in written words and verbal statements.
- Be sure to recognize simple innovations as well as major ones.
- Remind everyone that failure happens… so don’t be afraid.
- Promote standard sharing of research about other innovation actions.
- Don’t wait for a “perfect” innovation time.
- Understand that creating a new partnership is innovation often not noticed.
- Don’t innovate for show… innovate for progress.
- Finally use a commitment to innovation as a commitment to LEARN TO KEEP ON LEARNING! (Thomas L. Friedman)
I could keep on writing…but there is a lot of “messaging” in this TOP 10.
TRIPLE III TIME: Creating A “Next-Step” COMMUNITY
“Don’t select which seed to plant… instead make sure the “soil” is developmentally ready so any seed can grow!”
I wish I knew the author of this quote. Why…because I sure would like to pick their brain for additional thoughts and insights into its prep and sharing! There are so many progressive points that can be taken from this very “back-to-basics” collection of terms. However, for this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message…we are going to use this quote to focus on Creating A “Next-Step” COMMUNITY!
Many times, the best source of genuine next step creativity comes from your heritage. As a farm boy from rural Michigan, I had the privilege of watching and learning the farm craft from a strong group of growth-minded community members. “No one goes it alone”…would have been a true theme of purpose for the group. And as the introductory quote says: “making sure the soil is developmentally ready” was the common core mission of every farmer in the community. Progress was then achieved and observed through regular crop rotation and diversity allowed no matter what type of seed was planted! So why is this old-time memory important??
Bottomline: Today I believe everyone plays a role in Creating A “Next-Step” COMMUNITY. Whether it is:
- Shopping closer to home
- Helping your community area remain clean
- Speaking proudly of where you live
- Volunteering to help at the school
- Continuing to advance yourself, your family and your workplace
Just like my hometown farm “heroes”… initiating and maintaining a process of regular community next-step progress is really everyone’s job. So don’t allow your area of growth be determined by someone else. Rather… “Don’t select which seed to plant…instead make sure the (YOUR) “soil” (community) is developmentally ready so any seed (Next-Step) can grow!”
LEARNING MOMENTS: “The Road To Better”
Sometimes deciding on the “best way forward” can be confusing and often too full of reasonable choices. Taking a slow, cautious approach ay at times seem like the right path to take instead of a “quick and easy” option. Likewise, the costs involved in progress and growth may be difficult to accept… however selecting a low-cost opportunity may result in the “you only get what you pay for” reality.
This month’s Inspiring Innovations LEARNING MOMENT: “The Road To Better” podcast recommends taking a “refresh yourself” time in determining the best way forward. Whether The Road To Better action is about your world of work or on your homefront, selecting a simple and specific path and journey most times is the best approach.
The podcast contains numerous helpful hints and recommendations to make smooth The Road To Better for you.
Enjoy the listen.
TRIPLE III TIME: 3 “C’s” Board Growth Chart
The timing for a special message about building and more importantly developing a public/non-profit sector Board is really long overdue! Given my career history that required me to work with and for these types of community groups… plus the consultant information requests that have been part of my service mix… this week’s TRIPLE III TIME topic will focus on a: 3 “C’s” Board Growth Chart action plan.
Private non-profit and public sector organizational Boards are traditionally created based on Federal/State/Regional/County policies and thereby built on a special assembly of knowledgeable, caring citizens. Their typical assignment is to oversee the expenditures and performance of public dollars for a specific service/product. The criteria for Board membership is routinely flexible and open in an attempt to recruit and retain the best candidates available in a prescribed geographic region. However, it is noticeable that most Board formation regulations do NOT contain instructions nor a methodology specifying the need and processes for ensuring public sector Boards have a plan for continuous improvement. Boards may participate in strategic planning sessions for the entity they oversee, however the resulting progress issues they discuss do NOT apply to them. Hence in an effort to “share” the responsibility for comprehensive organizational continuous improvement, public sector Boards need to make appropriate changes in this area.
In an effort to fill the continuous improvement action void currently experienced by most public sector Boards, this TRIPLE III TIME proposes the introduction of a 3 “C’s” Board Growth Chart initiative. The 3 “C’s” referenced in the III title stands for creating continuous improvement plans around: Comprehension/Commitment/Challenges. Specifically, these responsibility areas would be components of each Board‘s annual learning Growth Chart.
Proposed implementation components of the 3 “C’s” Board Growth Chart may include, but not be limited to the following:
Comprehension
- Legal understanding of total organizational mission and target service audience.
- Full awareness of all fund sources and allowable cost costs.
- Knowledge of funding and oversight organizations.
- Awareness of fiscal and program reporting requirements and related timing.
Commitment
- Full knowledge of Board attendance responsibilities.
- Understanding of the value Board members provide as a representative of a specific business/community sector.
- Accepts the role/responsibility for supporting the organization’s priorities and public service activities.
- Supports the opportunity for Board members to be quasi-ambassadors for the organization.
Challenges
- Awareness of continuous political, fiscal, performance, and public service challenges.
- Understanding of potential conflict due to legal requirements of different programs.
- Difficult administrative decision regarding personnel levels, program expectations and/or results of monitoring/audit issues.
- Possible deviations from service delivery/operational processes practiced in other regions.
The goal for implementing an annual 3 “C’s” Board Growth Chart would be to expand the overall expertise, intellect and judgment skills with regard to Board responsibilities. Additionally, the progressive outcomes for engaging in an annual 3 “C’s” Board Growth Chart initiative are self-evident:
- Stronger/informed Board
- Greater advocacy
- Increased Board interaction
- Solid regional leadership example
- Avenue for idea–generation
Bottomline: Standardly continuous improvement is an expected requirement of all organization staff… therefore, the Board should also be a “teaming” example.
TRIPLE III TIME: Try A “Market Analysis”
If you are a true student of your business…be it a private or public sector entity… it is a good strategy to annually: Try A “Market Analysis”!
What specifically am I suggesting? Take a look at this excerpt from the Michigan Guide To Starting & Operating A Small Business to best answer this question:
“Paint a picture of what is happening in your industry and explain how you can plan to take advantage of opportunities within the industry. Use your understanding of the industry to demonstrate how your sales/service projections are realistic. Explain how fast your industry is growing with sales, numbers of customers, performance and profits. Discuss if any segments are growing faster than others and how you might leverage that information.
You may want to highlight the following elements:
– Current industry size, status and trends (to show how you will position your company for market opportunities and to identify areas of growth or decline)
– New products or services in the industry, especially ones that will affect your business/agency directly or indirectly
– Trade associations that support your product or service and that you will be contributing to
– Opportunities and threats affecting the industry (how you will capitalize on the opportunities as well as handle the threats).”
In our current customer marketplace… it is my belief that nothing stays the same and the only constant is CHANGE. Too often in my consultant experiences I find that both public and private organizations discuss customers with a “lack-of-change” point of view. The end result are products and services that may be high quality… but lack up-to-date components.
So… Try A “Market Analysis”… and be ready for a new set of discoveries!
TRIPLE III TIME: TRANSFORMATION… Does It Ever Stop?
Today as young adults have asked my advice on jobs… future jobs… and what type of classes should they take to best prepare for a great future… my single word answer is: TRANSFORMATION! And as you can guess their standard response is that a TRANSFORMATION class is NOT listed in any college catalog that they have seen?! So then comes the next question: “What do you mean when you reference a TRANSFORMATION class??”
(A fun kind of intro for this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message… right?!)
Well as a leader… if I was offered the opportunity to develop and teach a class on TRANSFORMATION Unending, I would customize it around the following main topics:
- Introduce the class with an understanding that TRANSFORMATION Unending occurrences impacts everyone.
- That the TRANSFORMATION Unending class intends to “pull-out” the leadership potential in all.
- That the incidence of TRANSFORMATION will even affect a company’s purpose and mission regularly.
- That TRANSFORMATION activities can be perceived as both positive and negative at the same time.
- That progress as a result of TRANSFORMATION in the workplace and/or with employees may become redefined.
- That TRANSFORMATION for an organization or business may include cost-cutting and layoffs.
- That use of technology during any TRANSFORMATION may become the end or new beginning in a workplace… but time and timing will be essential.
- Employment opportunities in a TRANSFORMATION environment will require a strong competency and diversity skill-set.
- That TRANSFORMATION in the workplace may not require a complete service or product change… rather responsible quality and modernization upgrades.
- Finally, the TRANSFORMATION Unending class would explain that by not addressing this issue EVERYDAY… the “behinder” you get.
Bottomline: There are a lot of separate thoughts included in this unique TRIPLE IIII TIME message. Consider taking this TOP 10 list one at a time to get the most out of each!
TRIPLE III TIME: Polarization In The Workplace (What Could/Should I Do Different)
One of the most unfortunate consultant requests I have had recently… was to do a workshop on avoiding Polarization In The Workplace! And when I asked for a few points of discussion that may help me prepare a talk on this very important issue, the “requesters” recommended a focus on:
- Deflating the “Us vs Them” situations
- Getting past “opposing extreme” scenarios and
- Suggesting finding a “middle ground” issue resolution between individuals
Today more than ever before, I believe Polarization In The Workplace (and in our world as a whole) has hit an all time high! Politically, socially and ethically it seems more people tend to take a side on issues much more often than to work toward a compromise point of view. In fact there was once a time when the person who developed and offered a middle ground/compromise solution was viewed as a good solid leader. Today that person would be looked upon as someone who can’t make up their mind and thereby is “wishy-washy” on important issues.
Well as I considered the most important points I would cover in a Polarization In The Workplace learning session, I decided to share a few TRIPLE III TIME options:
- Remind everyone that there will always be more than 1-2 or 3 views on any issue.
- Remind everyone that the customers you serve will also have different views on your service or product… both good and not so good.
- Remind everyone that the best opportunities often come from all sides giving a little… so everyone can get a lot.
- Remind everyone that no matter your job/life role… that life-long learning, continuous improvement and compromise will remain everyone’s job.
- Remind everyone that “taking-sides” on any issue labels you as close-minded and unable to be appropriately open to creativity and innovation!
Finally, when you are faced with Polarization In The Workplace challenges… always begin your corrective action with a directive to everyone to look in the mirror and ask themselves: “What could/should I do differently?” Then as a follow up to your directive… let them know you are ready to write down their ideas!!
Inspiring Innovations, Inc. 