Inspiring Innovations, Inc.

Strategic Planning is a very standard, futuristic organizational development activity that is used by both the private and public sectors.  Usually, an independent consultant is retained to help facilitate the process and concurrently draft a document that hopefully gives everyone a progressive design to move forward. Some plans are formatted to provide a five (5) year projection… while others may only look forward a couple years. Regardless, it is always helpful to employ a proactive plan that Boards, staffs, and communities may view as the future.

But what about now? No one EVER planned for or around the situation we all face today.

Well in an effort to offer a mini “where do we go from here” idea, I believe an appropriate starting spot would be to Revisit Your Groups Strategic Plan.

First, look through the whole document.  Don’t be in a hurry… but try to prioritize 1-to-5 actions that would be reasonably achievable. Use simplicity, timeliness, and organization-wide participation as your guiding prioritizing principles.

Second, don’t rekindle your agency momentum alone.  Involve a representative group of go-getters from all levels within the organization. Be sure to openly entertain ideas and suggestions for taking solid, progressive restart steps.

Finally, if you find yourself asking the question(s) if you are doing the right thing… STOP! Then turn the question(s) around and ask yourself to list at least three (3) reasons why you should NOT take new action.  Make yourself write them down… to make sure YOU are listening.

Waiting for the right moment results in just one thing… WAITING!!  Take the lead and set a progressive example.

One of the most important assignments/responsibilities any employee may experience is to Make THE Presentation!  First, it seems like everyone has an issue about getting up in front of a bunch of people and offering a cool/solid presentation message.  No matter the excuse: “I’m not a good speaker” … “I come across poorly” … “I’ve never done it before” … or “I will become physically sick”… as a leader, I have never completely let anyone off the presentation “hook”!

Today I believe that it is a critical world-of-work skill set… to have the capacity to Make THE Presentation.  In fact, in every one of my college classes, I inform every student that they will never know when, where, or why they may be selected to present a job-based topic in their future workplace.  So, this week’s TRIPLE III TIME will focus on a special Make THE Presentation TOP 10!

1. Prepare your presentation based on what you would want/need to hear… if you were in the audience.
2. Look beyond the basics of your topic and maybe offer an example or new option.
3. Don’t just read it to people… “feel” your presentation to people too.
4. Never be in a rush… message “digestion” often is different for everyone.
5. Write down questions people may ask… being over-prepared is being prepared.
6. Whether sitting or standing making your presentation… posture matters.
7. Select the best, simple, descriptive words possible (Multiple interpretations cause multiple meanings.)
8. Let people know WHO you are speaking for… yourself, the company/agency… WHO?
9. Practice doesn’t really make a perfect presentation… but it sure helps.
10. Finally, just be you… be authentic.

I hope these ideas help… let me know.

For those who know me… I mean really know me… they know that I have not been a supporter of program evaluations.  Why?  First evaluations are all about “old news” and/or activities that took place in the past.  My focus was and continues to be on the future and “what next!”  Second, evaluations never seemed to be “up-with-the-times”.  The evaluation forms, processes, questions, and reports always were basic, historical, and by-the-book.  There never seemed to be an interest or priority set around linking evaluation to innovation.

Well as you can see from this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message, my quarterly American Society for Public Administration article is dedicated to Using Evaluation To Infuse Innovations!  My history discussion and progress suggestions may not be easily accepted nor usable.  However, I will now admit that the use of quality evaluation findings can and should be contributors to infuse innovations in public service programming… whenever the opportunity arises.

Enjoy the article!

Several months ago, I was asked to be the 2020 Graduation Ceremony Speaker at a local high school!  Of course, I said “YES!!” and began planning what I would say when the May 29^th date arrived.  Well as you can guess, the COVID-19 issue has caused the cancelation of almost all major social gathering events and it quickly became an alternative challenge to prepare a video-version of my speech.

Please know that: (1) I completed it well ahead of schedule, (2) I had great extra video-prep help to make it look cool, and (3) just to make sure everyone viewing it enjoyed the messages… I began the speech with a GOATS (Greatest Of All Time Speaker) package of helpful hints… that I “magically” ordered online!!

Here were my main points:

1. Remember Your ROOTS

• Brag about your home area/high school/learnings from home (if you don’t… who will?)
• Keep a Career ROOTS Diary “forever” that includes education/job/achievement information
• Consider yourself a SPECIAL HYBRID with knowledge and skills… that contains Career ROOTS only you have (and are still growing)

2. Practice RESPECT

• Look people in the eyes when you talk with them
• Listening well is one of the greatest forms of practicing respect
• Shake hands when you greet people… LIKE YOU MEAN IT! (People remember)

3. Just Be YOU

• Be authentic in your conversations and actions
• People recognize FAKE stuff… (would you buy a fake Babe Ruth autographed ball?)
• Family, friends, and co-workers enjoy and want to be around REAL/AUTHENTIC people… so be one!
• Don’t try to be someone/something else… just be YOU!

I really appreciated the opportunity!!

The “zone” of communication has taken many new and different turns in lieu of the multiple unique challenges we all have been facing.  So too in the area of marketing.  Trying to mold and deliver the most appropriate and effective product/service information… I believe… has become a much greater and ever confusing assignment.

Think about it?!

Think of all the dollars that are spent on radio promos, video spots, newspaper ads, billboards… and the list goes on. Are people really looking, reading, and absorbing the message you want? Are people becoming “screen-time adverse” and somewhat reluctant to embrace any form of media due to the constant… always bad news phenomenon?

Well this TRIPLE III TIME message is about the “We Are All in This Together” thought process.  And if we extend this process and picture everyone sitting around the dinner table… it is now time to politely and regularly as everyone to: “Please Pass the WORD!”

What do I mean? I mean that today more than ever before it is everyone’s responsibility to promote, explain, identify and be a testimonial to good products and services in your area, region, and State! Be the first one to offer positive experience information, details about service quality, professional manner, and cool customer service. Also, when someone asks you to “Please Pass the WORD!” for a business or agency… don’t be wordy. No… just be simple, clear, and timely in your delivery.

The best promotional/advertising campaign is still found in person-to-person sharing. So, as you sit at the “I’m a supportive citizen table” today… everyday… make sure you loudly ask/say: “Please Pass the WORD!!”

When the idea of starting up a professional development consultant business was a career-changing priority for me… all kinds of questions/decisions were placed on the table.  What would the name of the company be? What type of motto/slogan would be applied to the services? What logo, emblem or picture would be used to offer the best image of progress, innovation, and creativity?

Well as you can see/know… Inspiring Innovations, Inc. and a picture from around my home were selected as the business name and image. But today this TRIPLE III TIME message is more about the “Always A Better Way!” motto.  I believe everyone connected to my business understands that my consultant assistance will ALWAYS be about finding a better way to accomplish a goal to get the job done. It is what I/Inspiring Innovations, Inc. stands for.

But today and maybe just for this time in our world… how about if we amend my business motto? So instead of Always A Better Way…lets stress the need to support creating: Always ANOTHER Way!.

Maybe even an “Always ANOTHER Way!” TOP 10.

1. Lead by example… more than ever before.
2. Switch places with your customers and know no two are the same… more than ever before.
3. Don’t get mad at technology… because it didn’t want to be stressed either… more than ever before.
4. Life-long learning is no longer just an option… more than ever before.
5. Help those around you return to work… apply extra patience… more than ever before.
6. Don’t assume your online messaging is perfect… perfection doesn’t exist… more than ever before.
7. Appreciate the physical contact of just shaking/holding someone’s hand… more than ever before.
8. Be encouraging, creative, and professional about changing job routines… more than ever before.
9. Don’t keep new, alternative ideas to yourself… they are needed… more than ever before.
10. Don’t be quick to say “this will never work” … first, try Always ANOTHER Way… more than ever before.

Maybe print this TRIPLE III TIME message and have it handy in case you need Inspiring Innovations, Inc. reminders… MORE THAN EVER BEFORE!

It has been a while since I came across a writing that I wanted to share via a TRIPLE III TIME message.  The sixteen (16) universal teaching techniques listed below were included in an article written by Chuck Salter.  In his article, he linked great teachers with effective classroom leadership and believes these techniques need to be nurtured and applied continuously.  Check them out:

1. It’s not about you; it’s about them. [Let students share too!]
2. Study your students.
3. Students take risks when teachers create a safe environment.
4. Great teachers exude passion as well as purpose.
5. Students learn when teachers show them how much they need to learn.
6. Keep it clear even if you can’t keep it simple.
7. Practice vulnerability without sacrificing credibility.
8. Teach from the heart.
9. Repeat the important points.
10. Good teachers ask good questions.
11. You’re not passing out information. [This means that you are teaching others how to think.]
12. Stop talking –and start listening.
13. Learn what to listen for.
14. Let your students teach each other.
15. Avoid using the same approach for everyone.
16. Never stop teaching. [This means be approachable after class time.]

We Are All Teachers… Sometime!  At our job, at home, with family, friends, or colleagues… teaching happens.  So keep this list handy and use it often.

As we all appropriately plan for a “reopened” future in our own worlds of work, there can be no better time to complete an insightful ASSET INVENTORY. No matter the services you provide or product you produce… taking strategic planning time to identify and evaluate the multiple assets we have inside and outside our organizations or businesses… is time well spent.

Look first at any organization’s greatest asset… personnel.  Consider the following questions:

• Is everyone in the “right position” and making the maximum contribution?
• Is there a need for new/different training that could/should be organized?
• Are there going to be new/unique personnel responsibilities that need to be assigned to certain staff?
• Is there the potential of job changes, retirements or quits in the near future… and have succession plans been drafted?
• Others??

Next, think about facilities.

• Are there even more improvements or adjustments that should be made to accommodate “online-everything”?
• With “workplace safety” now having an extended meaning… what else needs to be done?
• What facilities changes would make you the maximum “go-to-place” for your product/service?
• Is asked… what would your client/customers say about your facilities?
• Others?

The final ASSET INVENTORY – Timing is Everything TRIPLE III TIME topic is partnerships.

• Consider the new/alternative partnerships that have evolved due to the pandemic… will you build on them?
• Do current partners know they are your partners and why?
• If you surveyed your staff… would they recommend additional partnerships… maybe cancel some current ones?
• Also, if you surveyed current partners would they suggest new service/product offerings?
• Others??

I realize that taking stock of your assets has been a previous TRIPLE III TIME priority.  However, I guess when you think about the ASSET INVENTORY – Timing is Everything message… I hope you understand that some things never can be taken for granted.