Agenda - Council - 01/10/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• It is not in the business plan. • Interesting. Let's see what organizational leadership thinks about it. • That is the most idiotic thing I've ever heard. Inspiring Innovation in the Organization Skills, Behaviors, and Attitudes to Adapt and Practice Encourage others to contribute ideas. Fully consider an idea's merit before evaluating its drawbacks. Reward all ideas and make sure to explore and evaluate the best ideas. Give recognition to direct reports, peers and your manager when they suggest innovations that make a positive impact on the organization. Set aside all restrictions, policies, and established processes at the outset of a creative problem solving meeting. Let ideas flow freely, unlimited by boundaries. Avoid references to how things have traditionally been done. Encourage your direct reports to use intuition and curiosity in all aspects of problem-solving. Provide resources, time and support. Ask your direct reports what they need to be innovative and provide it to them. Encourage the use of tools to improve innovation, such as books, courses, and brainstorming sessions. Do not expect commitment from your direct reports if you persist in controlling instead of empowering. Express your commitment to innovation, convey expectations clearly, and follow through with action. Most important of the creative skills is the ability to ask questions. Failing to ask questions promotes stagnancy. Ask questions relevant to your objectives such as: "Who, What, When, Where, Why, Which, How, and Will it improve things?" Challenging Activities Determine your tendency to accept innovation by choosing a few of the following statements, then working on those you feel should be strengthened in your attitudes and behaviors: I encourage individual freedom. I am empowering and trusting. I am open to risk and tolerant of failure. I encourage innovation. I use a program of rewards and recognition for innovation. I hire enterprising, talented people. I encourage sharing information across all departments of the company. Reinq Willing to Take Bold, Calculated Risks Skills, Behaviors, and Attitudes to Adapt and Practice Realize that actions with the greatest potential benefits usually carry some risks. To achieve optimum long-term results, taking risks is necessary. Analyze risks and realistically determine worst-case scenarios. Determine ways to reduce risks without completely avoiding them. Accept the occasional failures that are bound to occur when you promote innovation. Promote the idea that certain amounts of risk must be accepted if there is to be innovation and prosperity.