Innovation and Collaboration

Delivered a talk at IMRB(Indian Marketing Research Bureau), Delhi on 10 Sept 2010. Here is the presentation..

Innovation and collaboration

View more presentations from Gaurav Sharma.

Also here are few quotes on Creativity:

• "The things we fear most in organizations - fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances - are the primary sources of creativity." - Alfred North Whitehead
• "The chief enemy of creativity is 'good" sense.'" - Pablo Picasso
• "As competition intensifies, the need for creative thinking increases. It is no longer enough to do the same thing better, no longer enough to be efficient and solve problems." - Edward de Bono
• "Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things." - Theodore Levitt

Vision shared-vs- Shared vision

"The empires of the future are empires of the mind." — Winston Churchill

I promise to keep this post really short.

First a small exercise, if you are a senior manager in your company, go out and meet few frontline employees, and ask them this simple question: What is our company’s Vision?

Are you surprised with what they have to say? I bet you are…

So, is it important to have a vision for the organization? More importantly having a ‘shared vision’ rather than 'sharing a vision'.

We generally find so-called elaborate ‘vision statements’ adorning the wall in corporate headquarters or maybe briefly mentioned in ‘annual shareholders’ report.

But, is that enough?

A vision is like ‘soul’ of the company; its aspirations, and like north-star, guides it into the future. A vision can only be effective if it is espoused by each and every member of the organization.

It is okay to fail...

Let me begin by asking few questions?

-How important do people in your organization see innovation to be in their day-to-day jobs?
-How well is your organization recognizing and exploiting the diversity of its people's talent?
-To what degree does senior management encourage innovation by demonstrating that- 'it is okay to fail'?

We see organizations struggling to create a sustainable culture of innovation. We know that mistakes and failures are a critical part of the innovation process, but what is required is an attitude towards acceptance of failure.

How are you different?

Thinking about Future..... read a very interesting quote today. "Any piece of knowledge I acquire today has a value at this moment exactly proportioned to my skill to deal with it. Tomorrow, when I know more, I recall that piece of knowledge and use it better." - Mark Van Doren.

Truth be told , this statement succinctly captures the essence( and future) of knowledge worker. How will you differentiate your self in future? Is it on the basis of information you hold(or have access to)?

Fundamentally speaking information will cease to be the differentiator.Everyone would have access to any(read same) information that one needs. Google is just a step in that direction( any information/or the source of information is just a click away); Web 2.0 will look at creating more interactive tools for the Users.

So what is it, that will differentiate a Knowledge worker?

McKnight Principles

William L. McKnight, who served as 3M chairman of the board from 1949 to 1966, encouraged 3M management to "delegate responsibility and encourage men and women to exercise their initiative."

His management theories are the guiding principles for 3M. His basic rule of management was laid out in 1948:

"As our business grows, it becomes increasingly necessary to delegate responsibility and to encourage men and women to exercise their initiative. This requires considerable tolerance. Those men and women, to whom we delegate authority and responsibility, if they are good people, are going to want to do their jobs in their own way."Mistakes will be made.

Ask Questions?

Ask the question, play the fool. Don't ask the question, stay the fool.

In today’s world, the old ways of doing business no longer produce the results nor provide the value they once did. Organisations are constantly faced with having to find new and better ways of operating. Consequently, one of the top challenges that leaders face is that of enhancing creativity within themselves and within others.

In taking on this challenge we must first comprehend the intimacy of the relationship between creativity and thinking. Our ability to be creative depends upon our capacity to think, which in turn depends upon our ability to question not only our practices, but also our beliefs and assumptions. We must learn to question the limits of our thinking. It is through this manner of questioning that we are able to rethink our thinking. Thus, the quality of our questions determines the quality of our creativity.

Even Eagles need a push

Something wonderful shared by a dear friend...

The eagle gently coaxed her offspring toward the edge of the nest. Her heart quivered with conflicting motions as she felt their resistance to her persistent nudging. "Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin with the fear of falling?" she thought. This ageless question was still unanswered for her.

As in tradition of the species, her nest was located high on the shelf of a sheer rock face. Below there was nothing but air to support the wings of each child. "Is it possible that this time it will not work?" she thought. Despite her fears, the eagle knew it was time, her parental mission was all but complete. There remained one final task – THE PUSH.

'Quiet Time' & ' No- Email' Day at INTEL

Read the company blog.........a great step!

http://blogs.intel.com/it/2007/10/quiet_time_on_track_no_email_d.php.