The challenge of changing the status quo

I believe that one of the reasons people resist changing the status quo is because every change creates winners and losers. (See my “Why do people resist change?” blog entry.) This insight is not new; in fact, one of the … Continue reading

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Where to look for innovation

At every annul planning meeting with a client company, we have the team take a look at their business from a different perspective, inspired by a current business book or article. This year’s inspiration is Ten Types of Innovation: The Discipline of Building … Continue reading

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Wide hallways, no elevators, open doors

Bell Labs was legendary for innovation. When asked what the secret of their success was, President Mervin Kelly said it was as simple as long, wide hallways, no elevators, and an open door policy. Long hallways forced people to walk between … Continue reading

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Perhaps it is time to declare a crisis

When there is a major problem, what signals do your actions send to your employees? What do you do when things are going dramatically worse than planned?  Merely hoping that things will get better is pretty risky.  Many of our … Continue reading

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The next big thing could be in front of your face

My wife Mary and I love seasoning our food with black pepper. When I was growing up, I concluded that my mother considered black pepper an exotic spice, since I never saw her use it. We always had salt and … Continue reading

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