Quote of the Week

“Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R&D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it. ”

Steve Jobs

Innovation Requires an Insatiable Urge to Try New Things
by Jean-Philippe Deschamp

It goes without saying that innovation is about challenging the status quo and introducing new and, one hopes, better products, processes, services or management approaches. Innovation requires curiosity, experimentation and openness to change. Innovation leaders are those who constantly challenge the present state of affairs, encourage wild ideas and instigate trying new things in their companies.

Despite frequent management denials, many companies adopt an ˜if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it’ stance. Therefore, innovation leaders must have the courage to foster a climate of experimentation and permanent change in their organizations (Deschamps, 2008, p. 9).

Deschamps, J.P. (2008). Innovation leaders: how senior executives stimulate, steer and sustain innovation. Reprinted with permission from the OSU Leadership Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, (614) 292-3114, http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu

Coaching Call to Action

In today’s world, change is a given. One’s openness to change is a requirement for success. This week -consider where you and your company are “stuck”. Take one aspect of your business and challenge the status quo. There are lots of ways to generate creative thinking. See Ideas and Information below¦ try one this week.

Community Involvement

May 16, 2009

ICFNE Presidents Panel: Collaboration – A Creative Alternative

I will be presenting at the ICFNE conference this year with three of my colleagues: Cheryl Dolan, Monica Brunaccine and Bill Sex.

We will be creating an experiential laboratory, where anything is possible. Join these four “Heroes” as they entice your creative juices, challenge your thinking, and lead you to “step it up.”Learn how this team has created an intimate, productive, and engaging environment in a totally safe space.

Because it is fun and energizing, a common sense of connection has been forged allowing them to uncover unique ways of solving problems, develop creative alternatives, and look at challenges in very different ways.

Discover their secrets in this very interactive session. To learn more about this year’s conference and/or to register to attend, visit www.icfne.org.

May 21, 2009

Being Resourceful at Merrill Lynch

If you are like most people, you already have more than enough resources (people, places, and things) in your life that can be used for support or help when needed. But, are you using them effectively to increase your productivity and profitability? Your ability to systematically identify these assets and use them is an important key to your success.

Coach Andrea’s interactive session will provide tools to show you how to capitalize on your resources to achieve the results that are most important to you. This seminar is scheduled for Thursday, May 21st at Merrill Lynch in Westborough, MA and is for existing clients of Stephanie Tyler.

May 28, 2009

Pounce on a Project

What project would you like to get on top of and accomplish this month? Come to the last Pounce on a Project V – - 2009 before the summer break.

Join Coach Andrea on Thursday, May 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Eastern. We will join as a group by phone and declare what you want to accomplish: getting taxes ready for the accountant, cleaning out those boxes in the corner, getting your website finished or make cold calls. During the morning, the group will gather by phone a few times to check progress and get any support needed to finish with a bang. At noon, the group will celebrate their accomplishments.

Who says projects have to be boring and tedious?

Ideas and Information

In my recent presentation, Business as Unusual¦ Change Your Thinking, Change Your Bottom Line fellow coach Cheryl Dolan and I created a Reference List for getting those creative thoughts moving. If you are interested in receiving this reference list, please contact me at andrea@coachandrea.com.

Other articles you might be interested in:

1. Life Rewards Action
2. The Wobbliness of Maybe

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