in Leadership, Strategy
Cynthia Montgomery, Professor of Strategy at Harvard University, asks her students what terms come to mind when they hear the word “strategy.” This word cloud illustrates their typical responses, which tellingly lack the word “leader.”
Why is that? More of the same leads to more of the same.…
in Innovation
Great leaders make it safe for others to innovate. What stops innovation? Fear.
Fear of the unknown. Fear of public shame. Fear of failing. Fear of getting started. All these fears, in one way or another, get in our way. How do we make it safe for others to innovate? You let them try stuff and see what happens.
Here are 7 ways to make it safe for others to innovate:…
If you like these links, check out all the previous “Innovation Must Reads of the Week“. And don’t forget to Follow @jorgebarba
This is the eigth of a series of weekly posts where I will answer a few common questions about innovation. Please feel free to add your own response. Also, if you have any questions you think we should discuss, let me know.
Via Quora: What are some of the first questions you would ask your employees and colleagues to spark innovative thinking, or positive change within and without the company?…
in Innovation
This is the seventh of a series of weekly posts where I will answer a few common questions about innovation. Please feel free to add your own response. Also, if you have any questions you think we should discuss, let me know.
Last week Michael Raynor, of Deloitte and author of The Strategy Paradox, contacted me because he wanted to ask me a big question: What are the big unanswered, but answerable, questions when it comes to innovation? To answer this, he asked me to share three questions or topics which are unanswered but that are answerable when it comes to innovation.
Here’s my answer:…
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Scott Forstall, is apparently out of Apple because he didn’t want to apologize to the public for the whole maps and Siri mess. Products he was responsible for.
Why is this important? Are we seeing arguably “the most innovative company in the world” starting to implode in front of us?
I don’t think so. I think this move is a clarification of purpose. See, when you operate by a different set of beliefs established by a Heretic founder, purpose precedes being nice.…
in Leadership, Strategy, Thinking
How can you get better at strategic thinking? Or in other words, “How do you improve your thought process?” One of the keys to becoming a great leader is to constantly improve your strategic thinking, so you can adjust to new global realities.
The first step is to accept that you are not right most of the time. You have to “constantly” question your own opinions. One way to do this is to surround yourself with people who don’t think like you. People who will question you. Make these people a key part of your team because what you don’t want is to be surrounded by YES men.
Another tip is learn game theory. Game theory is the study of strategic decision making. And strategic thinking is all about making better decisions. Game theory provides you tools to help you gain added perspective to generate alternative views. If you have added perspective, you’ll be able to anticipate and think critically about what may lay ahead; which are key strategic thinking habits.
Anyway, here a few simple and cost-effective ways to begin developing your strategic thinking ability:…
