The hero culture is alive and well in many organizations. Riding in on a white horse to rescue the company from a downward spiral, occasioned by a history of poor decisions, will win you lots of recognition and rewards. On the other hand, insisting on the importance of truly understanding customer needs prior to deciding…

Read More

When somebody asks if you can do something, pause for a moment before saying “NO.” Your first thought may be “that’s impossible,” but upon reflection you can probably figure out how to pull it off. Indeed, there is a very good chance that what you are being asked to do is not what is really…

Read More

Yes, we know you want your organization to be more innovative. And yes, we know you want to improve your organization’s culture of innovation. The best place to start? With YOU. Give up needing to be the smartest person in the room. Seek out people who think differently than you do. Reward new thinking. When…

Read More

It’s often the case that people expect their leaders to be decisive — able to make difficult decisions quickly. Indeed, this kind of behavior is interpreted as one of the hallmarks of good leadership. The reality is different, however. The “rush to judgment” mindset creates undue pressure on leaders — the kind of pressure that…

Read More

If you’re interested in raising the bar for innovation in your organization, start listening more. Listening, quite simply, is the most powerful form of influence. Generally speaking, when we think of influencing others we are thinking about our ability to get others to think and act in ways we want them to, in ways that…

Read More