14. Network
“If I have seen further it is by
standing on the shoulders of giants.”
- Isaac Newton
15. Innovate Yourself
Don’t Wait for Management
“It is better to light one candle than
to curse the darkness.”
- Chinese proverb
16. “Do stuff. Be clenched, curious.
Not waiting for inspiration’s shove
or society’s kiss on your forehead.
Pay attention.
It’s all about paying attention.
Attention is vitality.
It connects you with others.
It makes you eager.
Stay eager.”
- Susan Sontag
18. Image Acknowledgements
All images used under a
Creative Commons license.
Slide 3,16: fialess
Slide 4: Jeff Krause
Slide 5: Michael Porter
Slide 6: Indrarado
Slide 8: Rafcha & Ucumari
Slide 11: Management Innovation Exchange
Hinweis der Redaktion
Yes, it’s one of those presentations with less reliance on slides. Why? Because I’m passionate about this and I want your attention. I don’t want you distracted.
So relax. Put down your notebook and pen. Anything you see or hear I can provide as a link for you to follow up after the presentation.
This presentation goes by the cheery title… or if you prefer….
I didn’t call it a ‘journey’ because just about every person on reality TV is on a ‘journey’ and they usually get teary when they talk about it. This is a lot less melodramatic and a lot more fun. So, what have I discovered on my stroll and what gems have I found lurking behind the shrubs.
By occupation I’m a business analyst, which is great because I get to indulge in the curiosity and wonderment of a three year old. ‘Why is the situation like this’ and ‘Why do you do it this way’. ‘What if we do this and what would happen if we did that.’ So being innovative, to any degree, is important to me. But more than that: I want to go beyond my workspace. I want to work on those sexy, multi-disciplinary, innovation projects. I want to raise my profile so people know who I am and join with me for said projects.
I dedicate 30 minutes every day to all things innovation. Didn’t ask, just did it. My thinking was, who’ll notice 30 minutes. Also, I wanted to experiment, before asking permission. Its easier to argue for something when you can point to tangible gains. I wanted time to read, watch and listen to the links attached to posts on ‘VPS Ideas and Innovation’ A TED talk alone is 18 minutes. So now I Trawl websites Read books RSS and email feeds Many were recommended by other members of ‘VPS Ideas and Innovation’ Now I have the time to follow that hyperlink in the article, read that related article highlighted in the sidebar or the bottom of the webpage In time, common themes formed, so I have a better understanding of innovation and how I can have an impact.
I’m better informed. How others are innovating. How tools and techniques are being used to collaborate and develop ideas. But it’s not just innovation theory and practice. I’m networked. Through posting and responding on Yammer, I’ve built a strong network of like-minded people, that I can draw on. The more you share the more you get back. Learning begets learning. I’m visible. I’ve expanded my reach both within DSE and VPS. I now know people I had little chance of meeting. But, maybe counter-intuitively, I’m also more productive. Through sites like The99Percent, FastCompany, OneThousand and One, TED I’ve found tips to improve my organisational, time management and presentation skills. How to reduce ‘reactive work’ and ‘insecurity work’. And I’m happier too, because I’m more aware of what I can do and not hamstrung about what I can’t do. Also, it’s a pleasant break and I return to my day-to-day work more refreshed. The theory sounds great, but give us an example. We all love a story…..
This presentation is a great example. This presentation is a microcosm of what I’ve learnt in the last few months. It encapsulates not only what I’ve learnt but what I’ve come to believe. This is a guerrilla presentation. It wasn’t directed by management. It sprang up as an opportunity (Why don’t you….) from an unrelated conversation with Leonie Newnham.
The format and aesthetic was developed using inspiration, tips and resources drawn from these web-sites. None of which I knew of previously. And this is just about presenting. The content and the message came from sources that are too widespread to be shown on one slide.
It was polished by a network. Marc Fletcher is the only one who physically works anywhere near me.
Want more… Here is Seth Godin (American entrepreneur author and public speaker) on strategies for innovating in a hierarchical organisation.
If I can do it so can you. Thanks to the internet, we live in a information rich world. Information is cheap and available. The internet is massively cross-referenced. Follow that link, open up that sidebar to the article you’re reading. If a post has a link to an article on a new website chances are there are other interesting articles on that website. Hunt around. Knowledge begets knowledge. Insight is the currency today. Curation is the enabler.
Use Yammer, LinkedIn, Tumblr Offline Too – Hub, Collaboratory A network will help you trade in ideas, hone your ideas, and give you the reach you need. Steve jobs put all the bathrooms in a central area in the Pixar complex. Google offers on-site gourmet cafeterias. Why? So people might bump into other people, talk about what they’re developing and cross-pollinate ideas. Not in a regimented way but more a ‘so what do you do?’ way.
The more you practice something, the better you get. Innovation is a skill like any other. Innovate every day. The breakthrough moment probably won’t come immediately, but persevere. Many ‘overnight successes’ are the product of years of quiet toil.
And just to add emphasis. ‘Show up’ every day. Be aware of what and who is around you. Look for the opportunity to connect. Meeting with people in the real-world is just so important. It inspires, reinforces and breathes ever more life into your heart and mind.
Innovation and ‘disruption of business models’ is happening all around us. Because of the internet, cloud computing, the rise of social media and the sophistication of on-line collaboration tools, the barriers to innovation and collaboration are lower than ever before. But it’s the human element that’s important. The technology enables. It enables you to reach people, connect with people, collaborate with people. Trade ideas, improve ideas, put ideas into action. It enables you to better implement the theory and practice of ideas and innovation and more importantly, make it happen. The question is: Now that the revolution is here, do you want to be in the frontline or on the sidelines? Go on, take your own stroll, find your own way.
