Category Archives: Innovation

Examples of small wins innovation.

How to learn to innovate

If you were trying to learn to surf for example you might go to a surf school to start with. Assuming you have a surfboard and can swim. You would start on the beach practicing how to get up on the board. You might also sit down with the instructor and look at the beach, the waves and places to avoid. Then you venture forth just off shore to the small waves. After many mishaps and accidents and a great deal of fun you might go out a little bit further. My point is this — you are ... Read more

Managers are running out of excuses not to innovate

Managers and leaders know innovation is vital. But they often don’t practice it. It reminds me of exercise. We know it is important yet we never seem to get around to it. We always want to start next week! It seems it’s the same with innovation. – Too tired – Too busy – Not enough people – Not enough time – It’s too big I will start next week! But next week rarely comes around. I think the best time to start to innovate is right now. Select ... Read more

Where to start innovating?

I am often asked by leaders and managers: Where is the best place to start innovating? There is no one best place. Simply making a start is half the battle. It’s like a fitness program, the hardest part is just starting. But here is my suggestion: Start by concentrating on the small losses that consumers feel when they use your product or service. A small loss are those bite-size, yet frustrating mistakes or slips ups that all businesses make. It could be for example: – making ... Read more

The disruption alternative

Disruption is important. It is a powerful force to overturn monopolies and tired, out-dated brands and industries. Disruptive business models can also provide a huge benefit to consumers and customers like Uber for example. But following a disruption strategy if you are a manager or leader in a medium to large size organisations is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it can renew and revitalise an existing business. But it is also expensive, risky and time-consuming. There is another ... Read more

When is the best time to innovate?

Now! Not tomorrow or next week. The best time to innovate is right now. It does not matter where or when or on what activity. Too many leaders I speak to say that innovation is important (one of their top 3 priorities according to research) but then say they are really busy and will get to it next week. But next week never comes. Start Now. Start small. Just start! Starting creates action, confidence & momentum. Before you know it you are innovating. Read more

A small yet powerful way to engage consumers

I just returned from Singapore where I ran a few courses for the Institute of Marketing there. The course I designed was called Marketing Creativity. Half-way through the course some of the participants told me about a new ice-cream place that had all these amazing flavours. So we all went off on a field visit to this venue. Ok so we all tasted the ice cream which was delicious. The staff were friendly and enthusiastic about their ice-cream. Another big plus. But what really caught my eye ... Read more

Would young leaders be better off by thinking small?

Leaders are encouraged to think big. They are encouraged to create a big vision and make big changes. But is this the only way? What about the mid-level managers? Or young, future or emerging leaders? They often do not have the opportunity to make these dramatic changes even if they wanted to. So we need a new approach. I call this The Small Wins Way. It encourages young leaders to: – form small teams, – take on small challenges – with small budgets – take small ... Read more

Can big companies still do big innovation?

Think of all the big, disruptive innovations or new business models and you realise that almost none of these have come from big companies. For example: Uber Twitter Instagram Gum Tree Air B&B I could go on. These are big companies now but they all started by often young entrepreneurs. And what happens is that in the market-place of new business ideas the best ones rise to the top. They then get bought for big dollars by a big company . For example: Facebook has acquired more that 40 ... Read more

How to become an awesome leader

I think we need a new language to talk about leadership. One that talks to all current and future leaders. Here is my suggestion. Lets try and develop awesome leaders! Here’s how to do this by using the word AWESOME: Achieve results. There are many leadership models which stress various competencies and attributes but sometimes they forget that leadership is primarily about achieving results through and with people. Results count. And so does how the outcomes are achieved but there ... Read more

How to make a small difference – everyday

I recently gave a presentation to a MBA class on the Small Wins Way approach to innovation, change and leadership. I started the conversation by asking them: Could they recall a small change in their life that led to a big difference? Here are some of their reflections: - I started having breakfast each day which that I had more energy throughout the day and I stopped snacking. - I now don’t look at my email for the first hour of my working day. This means that I can do my best ... Read more