Innovation from the Inside Out
These days, almost all of my clients are talking about the need to establish a culture of innovation.
Some, I'm happy to report, are actually doing something about it. Hallelujah! They are taking bold steps forward to turn theory into action.
The challenge for them is the same as it's always been -- and that is, to find a simple, authentic way to address the challenge from the inside out -- to water the root of the tree, not just the branches.
Guess what? Systems are not sufficient to guarantee change. In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, "Systems die. Instinct remains."
Continue reading "Innovation from the Inside Out"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:58 AM | Comments (6)
January 30, 2010Get Deeply In Touch With the Passion to Create!
If you want to CREATE something extraordinary, you're going to need some of the spirit that Dean Schambach exudes. When the true force of creativity is burning bright in every cell of your body, all the rest will follow. Hats off to David McDonald, Woodstock filmmaker, for this pearl of brilliance.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:48 AM | Comments (2)
January 28, 2010Want a Brainstorming Breakthrough? Get the Right Question!
There's a simple reason why so many brainstorm sessions are a waste of time. The problem statement being pitched to participants is the wrong one.
This is not surprising -- especially when you consider how little time most facilitators put into preparing for a session.
Here's what happens: The person who calls the session is usually scrambling -- overwhelmed, over-caffeinated, and running from one meeting to the next. Out of breath, they pitch the topic to the group, but the topic is either vague or secondary to a more essential challenge that remains unspoken.
G.K. Chesterton, one of the most influential English writers of the 20th century, distilled the phenomenon down to 13 words. "It's not that they can't see the solution," he said. "They can't see the problem."
Continue reading "Want a Brainstorming Breakthrough? Get the Right Question!"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:06 PM | Comments (0)
January 27, 2010Facilitating a Brainstorm Session Is Like Going to a Casino
Facilitating a brainstorm session is like going to a casino.
You show up, find your favorite game, place your bet, and pray for luck. Sometimes you win. Most of the times, you lose. And the odds are always stacked against you.
That's the way it is for most of us -- casual visitors to Vegas or Atlantic City or a neighborhood poker game.
Then, of course, there are the professionals -- people who gamble for a living. They have a different approach. They know how to find an edge.
They count cards. They calculate the odds. They read body language. They know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. And they know how to trust their instincts -- developed over years of study, practice and experience.
Continue reading "Facilitating a Brainstorm Session Is Like Going to a Casino"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:41 PM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2010If You Want to Spark Bold New Ideas, Facilitate (Don't Lead)
Here's one of the dirty little secrets of corporate brainstorm sessions:
When they are led by upper management, department heads, or project leaders, they usually get manipulated.
Because honchos and honchettes are heavily invested in the topic being brainstormed, it is quite common for them to bend the collective genius of the group to their own particular point of view.
Not a good idea.
Participants -- out of respect for the expertise (or position or parking space) of the facilitator -- will invariably moderate their input. And while this can sometimes lead to good results, the results are usually disappointing.
Continue reading "If You Want to Spark Bold New Ideas, Facilitate (Don't Lead)"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2010Everything Comes Full Circle
Out of work? Looking for a job? Enjoy a few chuckles before you pound the pavement today.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2010Go Beyond Your Pet Ideas
If your company runs brainstorming sessions, know this: too many of them have become veiled opportunities for people to trot out their pet ideas and show them off to others.
Because everyone is so busy these days and real listening is in short supply, people use brainstorming sessions as a way to foist their pre-existing ideas on others. And while this sometimes leads to results, it doesn't make optimal use of the "two heads are better than one" chance a brainstorm session provides. The way around this phenomenon?
Give people a chance to express their pre-existing ideas at the beginning. Clear the decks. Then use the rest of the session to explore the unknown.
High Velocity Brainstorming
Conducting Genius
Photo
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:48 AM | Comments (2)
January 22, 2010Brainstorming Is More Than Ideation
Most people think brainstorming sessions are all about ideas -- much in the same way that Wall Street bankers think life is all about money.
While ideas are certainly a big part of brainstorming, they are only a part. People who rush into a brainstorming session starving for new ideas will miss the boat (and the train, car, and unicycle) completely unless they tune into the some other mighty important dynamics:
1. INVESTIGATION: If you want your brainstorming sessions to be effective, you'll need to do some investigating before hand. Get curious. Ask questions. Dig deeper. The more you find out what the real issues are, the greater your chances of framing powerful questions to brainstorm and choosing the best techniques to use.
2. IMMERSION: While good ideas can surface at any time, their chances radically increase the more that brainstorm participants are immersed (i.e. focused). Translation? No coming and going during a session. No distractions. No interruptions. And don't forget to put a "do not disturb" sign on the door.
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Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:17 AM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2010The Back End of Innovation
Here's a very lucid and well-written article by Rowan Gibson on the importance of getting your company's back end of innovation together.
Rowan's rant is consistent with my own experience. It also provokes you to consider one of the ultimate paradoxes of organizational innovation. On one hand, forward thinking companies need to take care of the unglorious back end of innovation -- all that behind-the-scene stuff that increases the odds of good ideas actually manifesting. On the other hand, most organizations' attempts to establish a robust back end usually devolves to stultifying, over-engineered, inhumane "processes."
What's needed is balance -- the artful blend of ideation, integration, and implementation.
Anyway, read Rowan's article. It's worth the five minutes it will take.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 03:29 PM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2010The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun
One reason why "innovation initiatives" don't work all that well is because their well-meaning architects usually take them too seriously. If people aren't having any fun in the workplace, chances are slim they will ever innovate. There is a huge relationship between AHA! and HAHA!
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:45 AM | Comments (0)
January 02, 2010Create a Garden of Innovation!
"Companies are actually living organisms, not machines. We keep bringing in mechanics, when what we need are gardeners." ~ Peter Senge
Sustainable innovation, the endless effort to find a better way, cannot be achieved by robotically lining up best practices and imitating them. The real catalyzing agent for renewable innovation is the ground from which these best practices spring -- the confluence of purpose, people, and processes better known as culture.
From where will the next wave of groundbreaking innovation come?
Not from organizations mechanically mimicking each other's best practices, but from organizations with the authentic commitment to take their stand on ground that has been cultivated for breakthrough.
Continue reading "Create a Garden of Innovation!"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 03:10 PM | Comments (8)
December 28, 2009Need a Breakthrough in 2010?
Whenever Aladdin wanted a wish fulfilled, he rubbed a magic lamp to invoke the genie. You? What do you have? I'll tell you what you have. You ALSO have a genie, but yours is virtual. No need to rub. Just click.
But before you do, you'll need to bring a challenge, opportunity, or problem to mind. Then frame it as a question beginning with the words "How can I?" Something you REALLY want to see manifest in 2010 -- whether it's business or personal.
Once you have your "How can I?" question, click here. And if you like what happens with our online Genie, you can order the offline genie, here. Or license it for your intranet.
And while you're at it, check out my book on the art and science of manifesting new ideas.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:54 PM | Comments (0)
December 25, 2009One More Difference Between Men and Women
Since the beginning of time, pundits, psychologists, and philosophers have been waxing poetic about the differences between men and women.
Many well-researched theories and observations have been postulated -- everything from variations of XY chromosomes to moon cycles to shopping habits.
Though I am not a pundit, psychologist, or philosopher, I would like to take this moment to propose yet another difference between the sexes -- something I've been noticing for years, but never completely understood until this morning's opening of Christmas presents:
Continue reading "One More Difference Between Men and Women"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:19 PM | Comments (1)
December 23, 2009PricewaterClaus
"Necessity," it is said, "is the mother of invention."
It is.
But it is also the father, aunt, uncle, grandmother, cousin, and in-laws. Indeed, for most of us, unless there is a proverbial fire under our proverbial butt, we remain victims of the status quo. Objects at rest. Bumps on a log.
Allow me to be more specific.
The year was 1998. Although the U.S economy was in good shape, my business was flabby. The pipeline was clogged. The marketing plan was a mess. And our cash flow wasn't...
Continue reading "PricewaterClaus"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:19 AM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2009Two Wolves
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
"One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
"The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:28 PM | Comments (1)
December 19, 2009A Peek Into the Future
OK. Go get a cup of tea, coffee, wine, goat milk, brandy, or whatever your favorite libation is and watch this 5-minute video shown at Sony's Rome conference last year. It's a very mind-opening peek into the present... and the future. The implications? Something for you to noodle on...
Thanks to Alan Roettinger for the link.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:40 AM | Comments (1)
December 18, 2009A Sign of the Times
I've been doing some fascinating research lately on the origins of common objects in our lives -- things we see daily, but often take for granted.
Like the Stop Sign, for example.
Most people think the Stop Sign was created to regulate traffic. Not true.
According to Dr. Ellison Burke of the Global Institute for Cross-Cultural Studies, the origin of the Stop Sign has nothing to do with traffic -- and dates back several thousand years.
Historical references to the Stop Sign have been noted in more than 27 civilizations, most notably Babylonia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Sumeria, Crete, Rome, and the Han Dynasty.
Continue reading "A Sign of the Times"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:12 AM | Comments (1)
December 15, 2009Invent, Iterate, Improve, and Innovate
What you can learn about innovation from the long and semi-glorious history of the zipper.
The X Factor
Innovate, Schminnovate
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)
December 10, 2009PRODIGY
Mozart was composing and performing for royalty at 4. Ethan Bortnick, from Hollywood, Florida, is not far behind. Yes, practice makes perfect, but then there are those who are prodigies.
And how about this 11 year old?
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)
December 09, 200950 Ways to Foster a Culture of Innovation
As your organization gears up for 2010, here are 50 ways to ensure that it's culture is conducive to innovation. Commit to a few of these today and begin to work your magic.
1. Remember that innovation requires no fixed rules or templates -- only guiding principles. Creating a more innovative culture is an organic and creative act.
2. Wherever you can, whenever you can, always drive fear out of the workplace. Fear is "Public Enemy #1" of an innovative culture.
3. Have more fun. If you're not having fun (or at least enjoying the process) something is off.
Continue reading "50 Ways to Foster a Culture of Innovation"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 06:31 PM | Comments (13)
December 05, 2009You Are Officially Entitled
When I co-founded Idea Champions in 1986, I had two business cards made. One said "President." The other said "Archduke." Whenever I gave clients a choice, they always wanted the Archduke card.
In time, I gave all the Archduke cards away and never re-ordered them -- in a pitiful attempt, I think, to seem more professional.
Fortunately, everything comes full circle. Last night, while enjoying a wonderful concert in my hometown of Woodstock, my next title was suddenly revealed.
Director of Public Elations (and, no, I did not forget the "R".)
In a flash, not only did I get an insight into what my focus will be for the next few years, I also discovered an entirely new field.
Continue reading "You Are Officially Entitled"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:30 AM | Comments (1)
December 03, 2009Frequently Asked Questions
OK.
Confession time.
I've never liked FAQs.
They always seemed so predictable.
So boring.
So customer-servicey.
That's why I wrote this.
Makes FAQs more fun to read.
(Don't bail out too soon.
It builds).
Well, I guess you'll be the judge of that, eh?
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 03:15 AM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2009Even Michelangelo's David Started Out as a Block
Stuck? Confused? Blocked?
Get over it by printing out this posting, filling in the blanks, and then reading your story aloud. Works wonders! Better than therapy! Cheaper than Prozac!
"Boy, am I blocked! I haven't felt this bad since ___________. I've tried __________________ and ____________________, but nothing seems to work. It's almost laughable the way I'm spending all my time ___________________.
I feel so frustrated I could _________________________.
Continue reading "Even Michelangelo's David Started Out as a Block"
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:30 AM | Comments (0)
November 29, 2009Vote for Me Today!
GOOD NEWS! I've just been nominated as a "Top 5 Speaker" in the field of innovation & creativity by a prestigious speaker's bureau. Now the fun begins... and the voting.
If you have 30 seconds and feel that I have made a meaningful contribution to this field, click the link below, scroll down to #7, and check the box next to "Mitchell Ditkoff." Thanks!
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)
November 27, 2009Sand Animation from the Ukraine
This is a mind blower -- the winner of Ukraine's "You Got Talent" award expressing the history of her country via sand animation. (Thanks to my son, Jesse, for the heads up).
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:19 AM | Comments (0)
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