Innovation

In constraints, a burst of genius

July 14, 2021
The Spark and Fire podcast recently devoted an episode to choreographer Bill T. Jones and Associate Artistic Director Janet Wong. Their dance company was able to stage one of the only large-scale performances held during the pandemic.

Next time, accentuate the negative

June 9, 2021
Negative brainstorming, or reverse brainstorming, is just what it sounds like. Beginning on a negative note may sound a bit iffy, but this actually may be the direction our minds more naturally go.

Spark creativity in your organization

May 12, 2021
You need all your employees thinking creatively, looking for innovative opportunities, and seeking new solutions to recurring problems. Everyone has the capacity to be creative—your job is to bring it out. Here are some tactics for inspiring your team’s imagination.

Take the anxiety out of innovation

April 14, 2021
Take the anxiety out of innovation by launching new ideas as tests or pilot projects, not full-blown initiatives.

Take these 5 steps to opportunity

December 9, 2020
To help your group identify opportunities for innovations, improvements, or solutions to problems, try a five-step question sequence suggested by training consultant Mark Tager.

Investigate before you innovate

November 11, 2020
If you want your frontline employees to innovate, fine—but don’t just issue orders. Instead, ask a few questions to determine how well your employees are prepared for innovation so you’ll know what else you have to do. Begin with these questions.

Never shut off the idea spigot

August 13, 2020
Q: I have a loyal employee who does a good job with every task that is assigned to him. One problem: Every original idea he’s ever suggested is absolutely terrible and he has not even a smidgen of clever, original thinking. Yet it would be quite awkward to actively disinvite him from brainstorming meetings or cut him from group projects. What to do?

Save good ideas from oblivion

August 13, 2020
In a fast-paced meeting or discussion, people can get so caught up in presenting ideas that some valid thoughts, responses, and additions get pushed aside too soon. Don’t let them get lost.

Incubate those great ideas!

July 9, 2020
Some ideas come to you in a flash of insight. Others take their time, but can pay off just as richly.

Imagineering made easy

February 13, 2020
“What could have been” and “what might be” are not the usual stuff of business discussions. Yet giving your employees the opportunity to pursue these topics can lead to new insights and ideas. Try these scenarios and see what emerges.