When you hear the word “constraints,” what creative images and stories does your mind conjure up? The word often leads people toward negative thoughts of confinement, limitations, obstacles, or not getting what you want. With this article, though, I want to talk about useful constraints and how they can encourage creativity and innovation. Common Views […]
Posts Tagged ‘organizational change’
The Pain of Honest Evaluations
People are funny. We reason with ourselves that we want the truth, but we prove time and again that we prefer being lied to. If your gut reaction to that statement is defiance, there is a strong chance that you’re lying to yourself about your own emotions. This article isn’t about the psychology of our […]
6 Idea Blockers – Psychology of Innovation
The psychology of innovation is like any other area of life where our brains and emotions simply get in the way of our progress. Even when we are aware of the pitfalls, they are unavoidable. Our brains are wired to fall into these traps. I recently wrote a blog post about harmful innovation myths, and […]
The Problem with “We Should”
“We Should” is Said a Lot I’ve worked at a handful of companies throughout my career. If you split the years out, half of my time has been working within an agency and the other half has been in-house. The agency work has allowed me to see dozens of other companies as well. I’ve been […]
12 Lessons Learned while Managing Corporate Innovation
The Road to Managing Corporate Innovation I started out at an ad agency in southern Indiana in 2002. Our clients were interested in technology and our agency helped them find their way. At the same time, I was building the web development and digital strategy team within the agency. We began doing things intentionally with […]
North Star Goal Setting
Goal Setting Options Abound There are many ways that businesses set goals, choose priorities, and ensure that their teams are rowing in the same direction. You’ve probably created SMART goals, been asked to use OKRs, watched KPIs, laid out Vision Boards, or updated Kanban Boards. These are all great tools to help keep team alignment. […]
Get Unstuck When You’re Not the Creative Type
So, you’re not the creative type? I have good news! In 4 Harmful Innovation Myths, I explain that creativity isn’t what most people think it is. In this post, I’ll show you how to use simple lateral thinking tools to break your mental block and get fresh ideas flowing again. Intentionality can force important things […]
4 Harmful Innovation Myths
Creating a culture of innovation is a fragile effort. It needs to be nurtured and encouraged. If your work culture doesn’t allow for creativity, your organization’s big ideas might pop like a broken lightbulb!
Top 6 Outcomes of a Successful Return-to-Office Program
Lately, I hear and read multiple news reports online and in my newsfeed about the challenges and decisions leaders and employees face about the pending “return-to-office.” What is your situation, and what is your level of readiness? Is your organization prepared for people to return to the office? Do you receive consistent messages from your […]
Essentials for Your Digital Strategy: Lean Transformation
Delivering seamless, consistent, and engaging experiences starts with a customer-centered digital strategy. This ongoing series explores the characteristics that make up a great digital strategy and how to deliver powerful brand moments that solidify customer loyalty and drive differentiation for your organization. Earlier in this series, we revealed the importance of organizational alignment for your […]
5 Ways to Drive Customer Centricity: Advice for the CIO
Who do you consult when Outlook isn’t working? What about when issues arise with your messaging platforms? Or, worse yet – when your customer experience platforms aren’t working properly? You likely answered “IT” when thinking about these situations. For years, businesses have charged IT with providing stability, consistency, and reliability. However, keeping the lights on […]
Cloud Transformation Overview
This is the final blog in a series around the subject of cloud transformation. The use of the term “transformation” in the title was a very intentional decision by the authors (Joel Thimsen & Victor Wolters) of this series. The desire is to send a message that adoption of cloud technology for any organization is […]