Innovation Insights
by Stephen Shapiro
In two previous blog entries, (#1 and #2), I discussed the psychology behind risk taking. In particular, I explored why people take risks to minimize losses, yet play it safe when it comes to increasing gains. In this blog entry,
Twenty years ago, The Boston Globe published an article on how traditional forms of motivation diminish creativity. For the most part, this is consistent with the goal-free philosophy. Organizational goals are extrinsic forms of motivation that often degrade performance rather
Today I was quoted in CIO magazine’s article entitled, “The Role of IT in Innovation: Friend or Foe?” (click the title to read the article)
In an earlier blog entry, I discuss the power of language. I want to explore this a bit further today. Here’s my variation of the “Asian disease problem” mentioned in that earlier blog entry: Which would you prefer? OPTION 1:
Today I received a research study on business trends. Trend #2 was “Innovation.” They said… “Only 50 percent of the executives surveyed believe their organizations are ‘top in class’ in innovation. This number shows that there is room for organizations
If you have creative people in your organization (and trust me, you do), then you may find yourself with TOO MANY solutions. This is why suggestion boxes (physical or online) do not work. Therefore you need to move from suggestion
Today’s article titled “The Happiness Factor” includes some goal-free quotes and statistics. jugglezine.com
Well, actually it is “goal-less” humor. In the movie “Dodgeball,” there is a funny conversation between Kate Veatch (played by Christine Taylor) and Peter La Fleur (played by Vince Vaughn): Kate: I’m curious, is it strictly apathy? Or do you
In this section you can view a dozen letters from satisfied clients… “When Stephen steps on the stage, he’s like a bolt of lightning.” — Traci Fenton, CEO, WorldBlu Inc. “I give Stephen Shapiro my highest recommendation as a speaker
To say the global economic environment is undergoing the most rapid change in the history of business is to state the obvious. Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year, you know all about the market
Here’s a question for all upwardly mobile employees: Do you want to be a contender in today’s workplace? Sure you do! Problem is, you’ve got lots of competition, all vying for a few scarce jobs and promotions. And the marketplace
Which magazine do you think men are more likely to buy: a men’s health magazine with the cover, “Lose Your Gut Fast” or a similar magazine with the cover, “Get Six Pack Abs”? One study showed that over 80% of
“If Thomas Edison didn’t know what he had when he invented the phonograph while he thought he was trying to create better industrial equipment for telegraph operators…what are the odds that you — or any entrepreneur — is going to
Here is another “innovation tip.” This one is simple, yet incredibly powerful. In fact, I am using this concept right now with this website. But more on that later. One of the biggest barriers to success is analysis paralysis. It
“Success is blocked by concentrating on it and planning for it… Success is shy – it won’t come out while you’re watching.” – Tennessee Williams
A few years back, I was an instructor of Stephen Covey’s “Principle Centered Leadership” course within Accenture. Over 75% of the attendees said that achieving balance in their life was their number one reason for taking the course. This is
I was recently interviewed for SellingCrossing about my thoughts on selling. You can read the interview by clicking here.
Well, at least that is the claim of journalist Oliver Burkeman. And maybe he is right. In today’s Guardian (a British newspaper), he wrote: “One of the most stress-inducing books I’ve ever read is called GOALS!, by the management expert
“Hacking something together means deciding what to do as you’re doing it, not a subordinate executing the vision of his boss. It implies the result won’t be pretty, because it will be made quickly out of inadequate materials. It may
At a recent workshop on creativity, I discussed “the performance paradox” – the concept that trying harder produces poorer results. Afterwards, one executive in the audience came up to me and told me his own story. He said… “When I
I just came back from a thought-provoking creativity conference. In attendance were hundreds of people, many of whom have been creativity practitioners for dozens of years. It was interesting to see how many of them are still using the same
Back in 1985, I worked for Unisys (then Burroughs) as part of an engineering co-op program while in college. This gave me hands-on experience working in the production control department for this large computer manufacturer. As I was leaving the
In today’s USA Today, an article discussed “players who are slumping in pursuit of milestones.” The examples they give are: Barry Bonds, who is eight home runs shy of Hank Aaron’s record of 755, has recently hit only 2 home
Doug Busch, former Chief Information Officer at Intel once told me, “The best things I have ever done in my career came shortly after I decided that the best thing that could happen to me is that they fire me.”
Bring Stephen's Innovation Insights To Your Next Event!
