Fresh Untainted Ideas!
01/20/03
Steven Sturm, vice president of marketing for Toyota Motor Sales, suggests a powerful source for new ideas and fresh perspectives: "Fresh ideas come from our youngest and newest people. They bring in stuff untainted by the company's culture."
There is an amazing amount of effort that leaders put in to transmitting our corporate cultures to those that join the team. We orient and train them in the processes and procedures that will make them "fit in" and "fly right." But we miss an opportunity to listen anew to the fresh ideas and innovative perspectives those same people can bring to helping us invent the future of our organizations. The greatest compliment you can give another is to value their ideas. This week, find some "new people" in your midst--new workers, new leaders, new customers--and ask a few questions.
What has surprised you about working here (working with us)?
What seems the biggest waste of your time? Your biggest obstacles to getting things done?
If you were to make one suggestion on the basis of your past experience as to how we could change how we do things here, what would it be?
In light of what you know about the customers/public we serve, what opportunities are we not taking advantage of?
Welcome to the challenge of doing a little radical listening to those "untainted" new people who haven't been asked to share what they see.
A PAULSON QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
"Life in the fast lane is like driving a car with no brakes, no reverse, and you can't turn it off. That is why it is important to keep your rearview mirror smaller than your front window. Too many waste time rehashing the past instead of getting busy making the future." --Terry Paulson, PhD, CSP, CPAE
MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT
Loren Ekroth (www.conversation-matters.com) provides today's mirthful moments--"It takes most of us 50 years to learn that . . ." Enjoy!
The badness of a movie is directly proportional to the number of helicopters in it.
The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.
There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is: age 11.
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy.
When you keep your eyes open for mirth, you just may find it! Hope this kicks off your morning and helps get your mood adjusted for the week. Now, get busy MAKING CHANGE WORK and have some fun along the way!...