Mapping the Big Picture (the Core Briefing)

Many people are concerned about the future, and indeed are actively working within their own sphere to do the things we need to do to create a positive future. Others are concerned, but do not have a clear idea of the kinds of changes we need to make in order to have a viable society in, say, 30 years. We are at a remarkable point of choice at this time in human history. The decisions and actions we take today will have huge consequences for young people alive now – some of whom may be reading this manual – and certainly for all grandchildren yet to be born. It is well established that our rate of ecological deterioration is worsening, not improving, despite local improvements in some areas. We are in a race between exponentially increasing environmental deterioration and people’s increasing desire to make the changes necessary to avoid collapse. Which will determine our future? Will we be the generation that fulfils humanity’s promise, or the generation that knowingly destroys the Earth?

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Design Thinking: A Strategy for Innovation

Here are some interesting insights from Linda Naiman - Creativity at Work, she has some fantastic networks...

Innovation Practices for Leaders

The revolution taking place in design — as it emerges from its traditional role of serving commerce — to a role of leading, shaping and directing the way we live and work, presents tremendous opportunities for leaders in business and government. CEOs of major corporations are now applying design principles to strategy and innovation. The success rate for innovation dramatically improves when it is designed.

P&G is using design-thinking to change its culture. Leadership is listening, learning, and deploying; cross-functional teams are cracking vexing problems across its business landscape; and visualization, prototyping, and iteration are facilitating communication internally and with customers like never before. (BusinessWeek July 28, 2008)

A design mind-set is not problem-focused, it’s solution focused, and action oriented. The purpose of design, ultimately, is to improve quality of life. Empathy is key to design success.

From a design point of view, truly innovative products speak to their users' emotions, according to Yves Behar (Fast Company 2004), who designs radical innovations to well established consumer products for companies such as Nike and Toshiba. It's the emotional connection you make with employees and customers that wins their loyalty.

The design way of thinking can be applied to systems, situations, procedures, protocols, and innovation. We can design the way we lead, manage, create and innovate.

Contact Linda Naiman for design training and consulting

The CLF Roundtable on Creative Leadership in Times of Uncertainty

Facilitated by;
Ralph Kerle, Executive Chairman, the Creative Leadership Forum.

We are finding more than ever senior executives are uncertain of what the future holds and are seeking information, dialogue and conversation amongst their peers and stakeholders, customers and shareholders alike. Our Chairman has recently been involved in designing and running a series of highly successful Roundtables for Australia's leading executive education institution and one of Australia's leading IT companies and their clients with the purpose of surfacing an understanding of what is occurring now in their industry sector, what the emergent future might look like and how they might approach that emergent future creatively. The Roundtables consist of no more than 12 people, needs to be in a private dining room and run from 12noon to 2.00pm with the option of an extension when the conversations become interesting as they have - one lasting well into the afternnon. Guests must be senior decision makers only.

If you would like to know more about how these events operate, please contact Grant Crossley on gc@thecreativeleadershipforum.com

Innovation Is Only An Outcome!!

(These are the opening remarks I made at the first meeting of AGSM Executive Programmes Roundtable on Leadership, Creativity and Innovation) The word innovation, still in these very hard and disturbing times appears almost daily in the media. There are 360 million references to innovation on Google and on my Google Daily RSS feed I receive notice of new books and articles released daily globally on the topic. And now I get emails daily suggesting that innovation will be the saviour of the current economic times. Every job advertisement talks about the applicant having the need to be creative and innovative. It appears this thing called innovation is a common everyday occurrence. The reality is one might be able to talk about it as if it is. In practice, the reality is very different. Innovation is an outcome. Nothing more. Creativity and invention with their fellow travellers risk, experimentation and the until more recently undiscussable “f” word “failure” are the drivers of innovation.

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When did you win an argument lately - Argue with us here...

Here is a way to argue on a professional level - that creates results... Let's view the question "Do senior leaders need to understand how to think creatively before they can lead creatively?" Contact us to discuss how to commercialize this project with your staff and clients