Walk the Talk

Every one of us has a schedule to keep. Some of us are out making sales calls while others are helping our teams solve complex problems, others are meeting with officials, and still others are nurturing and developing leadership potential within our organizations just to name a few of things that we do each and every day. The last thing we need is another change in the way we do business, another project eating away at the little bit of time we have left to ensure that we have the mental capacity and physical ability (bandwidth) to function at the high levels that we expect of ourselves. Yet without change, without innovation, our organizations will surely die.

We line the halls and Boardrooms with inspirational posters and we say all the right things but is that really how we lead or is it more a reflection of how we’d like to lead? Are the ideas and concepts that appear on those posters embedded in to our psyches or are they merely a convenient truth for when things don’t go our way?

So how do we do it? How do we ensure that our companies will grasp the change that’s required in order to for us to grow? The answer…keep it simple. Ultimately, if you can’t walk the talk then no one will … even if they have the ability. Keep the innovation process as simple as you can by using clear and concise language, and by keeping it on target! Convey your innovation strategy to your employees in terms that everyone involved in the process can understand. Be sure to set aside time for planning sessions and milestone follow-ups. Be sure that ALL the project stakeholders including those that will determine the nature of the project, understand what you’re trying accomplish. After all, if your next innovation is going to make the company more profitable, it should be the most important items on your agenda and not simply a poster on the wall

If you believe what you’re saying … embed your belief in to your strategic innovation plan. Your customers and clients will ultimately validate your beliefs.

For help in focusing, simplifying and clarifying your strategic or strategic innovation plan come join us.

We’re Innovators Alliance a network of high performing CEOs whose goal is to empower each other to grow our good companies into great ones through profitable innovation.