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The Innovation Blog

Corporate Will Trumps Corporate Strategy

Posted by Jay Terwilliger on February 1, 2018

The other day I was having a conversation with the Division President of a large company about innovation. I mentioned to him that in our 30 years in the innovation space, we have noticed that innovation initiatives tend to have a 3-5 year life. The pursuit of breakthrough innovation – “Big Bet” innovation that expands the opportunity for significant growth through expanding markets or creating new ones, takes time. The unfortunate result of changes in Corporate Will is that too often, just when investments begin to pay off with new platforms, new technologies, etc., the efforts are often abandoned.

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Topics: Innovative Culture, Communication, executive sponsor, Alignment, Success Factors, breakthrough innovation, leadership, strategy, Strategic Goals, decision-making, breakthrough, Transformational Innovation, changing the game, innovation decision-making

Communication Strategy: Open-Ended Questions, Beware! (Part 1)

Posted by Creative Realities on May 20, 2011

Here’s today’s proposition: There are times in working and personal situations where open-ended (unsupported) questions can unintentionally sabotage and seriously derail the communication.

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Topics: Mark Sebell, Communication, questions, Innovation

An Innovation Fable - Hunters, Guns, and a Four Year Old

Posted by Creative Realities on February 23, 2011

What’s behind the question?  How many times do we ask that in our daily conversations or interactions?  In my case, as you’ll read shortly, it’s at least one time too few.  Regardless of my travails, understanding when this question should and should not be used to enhance creative thinking and innovation is a lesson that everyone should learn.
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Topics: Communication, divergent thinking, Tamara Wickramasinghe, Innovation, brainstorming, connection making

Innovation Speed Bump: Disagreement between Words, Tones & Nonverbals

Posted by Creative Realities on November 8, 2010

It's not always what you say; it's how you say it. Crystal clear communication is a cirtical piece of any innovation effort.  We all know that words are not the only way we communicate with each other. Interpersonal communication also includes:

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Topics: Ideas, Innovation Speed Bump, Communication, Nonverbals