“Many organizations are so
busy operating that they fail to think their way to success.”
There seems to be nothing that
organizations won’t do to be successful except discovering the abundant
opportunities that lie in the minds of the people on their payroll.
In a marketplace that is always
rapidly changing, it is incumbent on an organization, if they are to succeed,
to be increasingly innovative. New products, new services, new technologies,
and new competitors enter the market every day. As an example, Forbes magazine
estimates more than 250,000 new products are launched per year globally. No
organization can thrive today without a constant emphasis on innovation.
Many businesses are constantly
searching for new and better ways to get the job done. They look far-and-wide,
search their archives, and attempt to anticipate the future, study competitors,
and non-competitors. No outside source is beyond scrutiny. They are blind to
the gold mines that lie within the organization. Every person—no exception—that
receives a company paycheck should be considered a source of innovative ideas.
Despite the importance of
creative thinking, it is one of the most challenging objectives to achieve in
an organization. A fundamental change in the attitude of management is
essential. It is management, especially the top man or woman; that creates the
climate where creative thinking and innovative problem solving thrives.
Every manager and supervisor
should be required to read, “Acres Of Diamonds,” by Russell H. Conwell. This
short (71 page) book is the script of a lecture which Conwell delivered more
than 6,000 times. It earned him speaking fees amounting to more than eight
million dollars.—over $112,000 per page. Once read, each manager should write a
one-page report to his/her supervisor detailing how they plan to implement
Conwell’s story line: “Your diamonds are no in far distant mountains or yonder
seas; they are in your back yard if you but dig for them.
Once there is evidence of support
at the top this support must spread to include management support and
participation at all levels. Creative ideas can come from anywhere in the
organization; the CEO’s office, the advertising department, the merchandising
department, the purchasing department, Information system department, the mail
room. The smart manager treats everyone as a source of creative input and strives
to create an environment that both encourages and rewards innovative thinking.
Innovative organizations seek to
tap the unused creative potential of their employees and members. They
establish and maintain a climate where employees are encouraged, recognized and
reward for developing new ideas and taking risks. These organization also
provide the necessary leadership to see that innovation becomes usable on a
daily basis.
SIGNS OF A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT
• The organization commits to
creativity and innovation.
• Leadership encourages people to
imagine, innovate, and experiment with ideas.
• There is good communication
within and between units.
• People receive recognition and
rewards for creative performance.
Though opportunities are
everywhere, they are most easily found in the organization’s greatest asset:
its people. While easy to find, they must be searched out.
Today, purchase “Acres of Diamonds,” read it, summarize it, and implement Mr. Conwell’s golden rule of finding golden opportunities. If you know, an opportunity is in here and not out there, where do you spend your creative time?
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