Tag Archives: management

Why it’s very hard to say no…yet very important

in Strategy

 

I firmly believe that strategy is about making choices. I didn’t have to read it in a book or sit down with Michael Porter to come to this conclusion. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been saying “no” to a bunch of things. I’m known to fire clients, or simply reject prospects without thinking about it. Sometimes, I don’t even take on clients because I perceive they will become a problem, and as a result it will become a pain in the butt work experience.

For me and my organization, it is very clear what types of organizations we want to work with. And, it isn’t because they can pay us more. It is because we admire, respect and feel that our values are aligned with their. It is a great filter to have. But for others who have worked  with me, it is hard to accept; because they focused on closing deals.

I didn’t draw this up in a strategic plan or just deliberately do it. It is instinctive. It is my personality to focus on what matters and eliminate that which doesn’t. And, what matters to me is completely different to what matters to you. This is what strategy is about……

What are the big unanswered, but answerable, questions when it comes to innovation?

in Innovation

question to innovate

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 Best of Game-Changer October 2012

in Innovation

Here’s a look back at the posts you liked the most in the month of October 2012:

Don’t forget to

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Is the CEO responsible for product failure and wins?

Is the CEO responsible for product failure and wins?

in Innovation, Leadership, Questions

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.…

question-to-innovate

How do you know when it’s time to innovate?

in Innovation, Leadership, Question-To-Innovate, Questions

question-to-innovate

This is the third 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.

All the time.

The best and most productive activity and organization can do, is to always be thinking about how they will become irrelevant. Think about how you will be disrupted, and disrupt your success.

And, it all starts with the individual:…

How do you encourage employees to share ideas?

How do you encourage employees to share ideas?

in Innovation, Question-To-Innovate, Questions


This is the second 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.

Good ideas can come from anywhere, but just asking for them doesn’t mean everyone will speak their minds. I think this is where a gap exists between activating innovation and simply talking about it. It’s also why it is important for leaders to be open and share their thought process with others to encourage dialogue.

Beyond the Here are a few more ways:…

question to innovate

Why is innovation so hard for large companies?

in Innovation, Question-To-Innovate, Questions

question to innovate

This is the first of a series 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.

There are many reasons why large companies don’t innovate. But to simplify, it is because most companies are designed to execute, not innovate.

There are a few that do “get” innovation. But, traditionally companies are founded to make money as an outcome, not to last. And, even if companies make money and have both resources and assets, it doesn’t mean that they will innovate. To innovate, you must change. And to change, is something most don’t plan to do or are willing to do.…