Sat.Jun 08, 2024 - Fri.Jun 14, 2024

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5 Traps to Avoid as You Gain Power as a Leader

Harvard Business Review

As you transition to a leadership role, your relationship to power changes: You gain more of it, and people start acting differently around you due to your authority. How can you avoid the hidden traps of gaining power, which shapes you in ways you may not realize? The authors outline five key traps leaders can fall into — the savior trap, the complacency trap, the avoidance trap, the friend trap, and the stress trap — and offer ways to counteract each.

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Is AI Selfish?

Digital Tonto

When evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins claimed that genes are selfish, he didn’t mean that he thought they are cognisant, with a will of their own. Rather, that genes act as if they are selfish, working to replicate themselves in the most efficient way, regardless of what that entails for the organism that carries them. In other words, the phrase "survival of the fittest" applies to our genes, not to us.

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How would YOU improve chess?

Idea to Value

Imagine this. You work for a board game manufacturer, and you have been asked to improve the sales of your chess games. They have been slowly falling over the past few years and your boss has asked you to come up with innovative solutions to make it more appealing and increase sales. How would you approach this innovation challenge? A lot of people might begin thinking that innovation means finding ways to “improve” the product.

System 180
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How to Get Your Team to Actually Speak Up

Harvard Business Review

There is a common leadership misconception that merely encouraging team members to voice their opinions will foster an environment of openness. But people won’t speak up unless they feel safe doing so. As a leader, this means you have to address the underlying reasons for employee reticence, including the individual and systemic barriers to speaking up.

How To 145
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Prepare Now: 2025s Must-Know Trends For Product And Data Leaders

Speaker: Jay Allardyce

As we look ahead to 2025, business intelligence and data analytics are set to play pivotal roles in shaping success. Organizations are already starting to face a host of transformative trends as the year comes to a close, including the integration of AI in data analytics, an increased emphasis on real-time data insights, and the growing importance of user experience in BI solutions.

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Think Outside Which Box?

Innovation Excellence

GUEST POST from Howard Tiersky We’ve all said it. We need to think “outside the box.” But what is this box-like barrier that would otherwise constrain our thinking, and how do we move beyond it?

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Experts can often be Sceptics and Wrong

Destination Innovation

There are several notable historical examples where a large number of scientists opposed an idea that later turned out to be true. Here are some instances: The Theory of Special Relativity was put forward by Albert Einstein in 1905. It contained revolutionary ideas about light, energy and space-time. Many scientists rejected Einstein’s work for decades.

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Learning to Delegate as a First-Time Manager

Harvard Business Review

Learning how to delegate well is a skill every first-time manager needs to learn from the very start. Many people are promoted into management for doing their previous job well. But once you’re promoted into a leadership role, you must accept that you can’t do everything on your own — nor should you. Though it may seem counterintuitive, the more senior you become in an organization, the less you’ll be involved in doing the day-to-day work.

Learning 145
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Conversation Mapping

IdeaScale

This post is about a meeting method variously referred to as conversation mapping, dialogue mapping, or argument mapping and a software tool that supports it. Conversation mapping is the outgrowth of Issue-Based Information Systems (IBIS), an idea first proposed in 1970 by Horst Rittel, an urban planner and designer.

Meeting 100
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Designing Organizational Change and Transformation

Innovation Excellence

GUEST POST from Stefan Lindegaard Over 40% of organizations report that change fatigue is their biggest barrier to organizational change. To combat this, we need to approach change processes from another perspective: a human-centered perspective. It’s not just about adapting to what’s normal and settling into a routine; it’s about constant change.

Change 105
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How a Lean Transformation and Framework Facilitate Innovative Business Strategies

Kainexus

In an era where efficiency and agility are paramount, Lean business transformation has emerged as a pivotal strategy for organizations aiming to streamline operations and enhance value creation. By adopting Lean principles, companies can significantly reduce costs, improve quality, and accelerate time-to-market. In today's dynamic business environment, the Lean method is prized for its adaptability across various industries, from manufacturing to services, and its ability to ensure that business

LEAN 87
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How To Select the Right Software for Innovation Management

Finding the right innovation management software is like picking a racing bike—it's essential to consider your unique needs rather than just flashy features. This oversight can stall your innovation efforts. Download now to explore key considerations for success!

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Research: The Most Common DEI Practices Actually Undermine Diversity

Harvard Business Review

While companies say they champion diversity, there are glaring disparities in diverse representation within managerial ranks. The authors examine the impact of various management practices on diverse representation in managerial roles and how often each management practice is utilized in organizations, shedding light on why organizations are not making greater progress toward diverse representation.

Training 142
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You asked, We Answered: Questions on Innovation

IdeaScale

Drop in on the Q&A portion of a recent innovation conference, sponsored by my colleagues at Visagio. I gave the keynote speech about Seeing Around Corners and the criticality of innovation. Here is an excerpt from the Q&A. Image via Pxhere What are the risks and benefits of completely changing a business model?

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Balancing Artificial Intelligence with the Human Touch

Innovation Excellence

GUEST POST from Shep Hyken As AI and ChatGPT-type technologies grow in capability and ease of use and become more cost-effective, more and more companies are making their way to the digital experience. Still, the best companies know better than to switch to 100% digital.

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Operational Excellence Examples for Business Growth

Kainexus

Operational excellence is the continuous pursuit of improvement in an organization's processes and systems to achieve efficiency, effectiveness, and agility. It involves streamlining operations, reducing waste, optimizing resources, and enhancing productivity to deliver high-quality products or services at lower costs and faster speeds. The impact of operational excellence on business growth is profound.

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How To Set Up Innovation So That It Aligns With And Enables Corporate Strategy

Speaker: Paul Heller

Most innovation work proceeds independently from company strategy. As a result, the products that arrive in the market are not well aligned with the company’s goals. This challenge is particularly significant in organizations with transformation-oriented strategies, where innovation must directly support growth, scalability, and strategic pivots. In this session, we will discuss why innovation in large companies is so often not aligned with the company’s strategy and what innovation leaders, pro

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3 Ways to Compassionately Hold Your Team Accountable

Harvard Business Review

Why are some teams more successful than others when it comes to meeting deadlines, hitting targets, and growing revenues? Researchers at the NeuroLeadership Institute looked at the cognitive processes associated with leaders who cultivate accountability on their teams. They identified three distinct habits practiced by these leaders: They think ahead, obsess about commitments, and anchor on solutions.

Meeting 142
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Too Big to Fail? Think Again

Phil McKinney

The myth that anything or anyone is too big to fail persists, but history serves as a stark reminder that size and influence do not guarantee permanence. As someone who grew up in Chicago, I was aware of the widespread belief that Sears, Roebuck, and Co., the hometown retail giant, was "too big to fail." Its size, power, and influence were legendary.

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Intuitive Skill, Center of Emphasis, and Mutual Trust

Innovation Excellence

GUEST POST from Mike Shipulski Mutual Trust. Who do you trust implicitly? And of that shortlist, who trusts you implicitly? You know how they’ll respond. You know what decision they’ll make. And you don’t have to keep tabs on them and you don’t have to manage them.

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Breaking Down Different Types of Business Transformation Strategy -- and Why It Should Matter to You

Kainexus

In the increasingly complex and rapidly evolving world in which we operate, business transformation has become crucial for organizations striving to stay competitive and relevant. Business transformation refers to the fundamental and profound changes an organization undergoes to adapt to new market conditions, technological advancements, or shifts in consumer behavior.

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Driving Responsible Innovation: How to Navigate AI Governance & Data Privacy

Speaker: Aindra Misra, Senior Manager, Product Management (Data, ML, and Cloud Infrastructure) at BILL

Join us for an insightful webinar that explores the critical intersection of data privacy and AI governance. In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, building robust governance frameworks is essential to fostering innovation while staying compliant with regulations. Our expert speaker, Aindra Misra, will guide you through best practices for ensuring data protection while leveraging AI capabilities.

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Leaders Need to Reframe the Return-to-Office Conversation

Harvard Business Review

There is no easy solution for companies trying to craft policies that balance in-office and flexible working, as there are undeniable benefits to both approaches. But much of the recent messaging from company leaders demanding that employees return to the office has felt tone-deaf at best and dictatorial at worst. To be successful, companies need to engage in dialogue with employees and be explicit and honest about which outcomes are most critical.

Policies 142
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The Power of Product-Based Thinking in Customer-Centric Innovation

Planview

The landscape of digital transformation and technology management is undergoing a significant transition as enterprises transition from project-based to product-based management driven by customer-centricity, cost optimization, and cultural shift. Leading organizations now prioritize long-term customer value, using real-time feedback for continuous improvement and use an incremental funding approach based on results to reduce technical debt.

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Nike Should Stop Blaming Working from Home for Their Innovation Struggles

Innovation Excellence

GUEST POST from Robyn Bolton “But even more importantly, our employees were working from home for two and a half years. And in hindsight, it turns out, it’s really hard to do bold, disruptive innovation, to develop a boldly disruptive shoe on Zoom.

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Best practice in idea management: A look at I.K. Hofmann GmbH

innosabi Innovation Insights

Idea management is a central component of modern organisations that strive for innovation and continuous improvement. But how do you create an effective system that motivates employees and brings about real change? I.K. Hofmann GmbH provides an impressive example of how to successfully overcome the challenges of idea management and create a culture of innovation. […] Der Beitrag Best practice in idea management: A look at I.K.

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HR Meets AI: The New Way of Keeping Large Workforces Connected and Engaged

Speaker: Miriam Connaughton and Donald Knight

As organizations scale, keeping employees connected, engaged, and productive can seem like a monumental task. But what if AI could help you do all of this and more? AI has the power to help, but the key is implementing it in a way that enhances, rather than replaces, human connection. Join us for an exploration into how industry trailblazers are using AI to transform employee experience at scale while addressing both the potential and the pitfalls.

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How to Get Your Colleagues On Board with Your Idea

Harvard Business Review

In the early stages of your career, getting people to not only listen to, but to agree to or to act on your ideas or views can be challenging. It’s often a time when you have the least amount of influence and are still building your reputation. When you want to persuade someone to see (or do) things your way, you may default to skills you’ve been socialized to exhibit: making a rational argument supported by data, persisting in the face of a challenge, and projecting confidence.

How To 140
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Why Enterprises Need to Leverage their Innovation Ecosystem Copy

Qmarkets

Innovation is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge, yet many enterprises struggle with disjointed efforts that don’t deliver consistent results. The key to overcoming this challenge lies in leveraging an innovation ecosystem—a strategic approach that aligns all innovation activities with the company’s objectives. By finding your place within this ecosystem and fostering robust relationships and processes, you can ensure that your innovation efforts are collaborative, integrated

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Innovation the Amazon Way

Innovation Excellence

GUEST POST from Greg Satell In 2014, Stephenie Landry was finishing up her one-year stint as Technical Advisor to Jeff Wilke, who oversees Amazon’s worldwide consumer business, which is a mentor program that allows high potential executives to shadow a senior leader and learn first-hand. Her next assignment would define her career.

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Tecnologías verdes para un futuro sostenible: innovaciones que marcan el camino

ideas4allinnovation

En el contexto de un mundo enfrentando desafíos ambientales sin precedentes, desde el cambio climático hasta la degradación de ecosistemas, la adopción de tecnologías verdes se ha convertido en una prioridad crítica para asegurar un futuro sostenible. Estas innovaciones no solo ofrecen soluciones para reducir el impacto ambiental de las actividades humanas, sino que también abren nuevas vías para el desarrollo económico y social.

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How to Master Product Portfolio Management

Pursuing product portfolio management excellence empowers organizations to unlock the full potential of their offerings. This comprehensive guide unveils 10 essential keys that serve as the building blocks for success.

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How Gen AI Can Make Work More Fulfilling

Harvard Business Review

Research by BCG shows that workers who spend too many hours on tasks they dislike (“toil”) are at risk for quitting, and employees who spend sufficient time on work that creates joy are less of a flight risk. A study of the consulting firm’s administrative employees demonstrates how they can use AI to reduce time spent on toil and increase time on joy-creating tasks.

Study 141
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Radio Flyer is PIVOTAL!

Stephen Shapiro

One week from today, PIVOTAL: Creating Stability in an Uncertain World will be in bookstores. Given that today is International Day of Play, sharing this excerpt seems quite appropriate. Enjoy! When seeking stability, look no further than Radio Flyer. Established in 1917, the company is renowned for its iconic “The Original Little Red Wagon.” Over the years, Radio Flyer has diversified its product line to include tricycles and scooters.

Meeting 52
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Why Greedflation Must End and How Consumers Can Make It So

Innovation Excellence

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia Greedflation — an insidious blend of greed and inflation — has silently been eroding the purchasing power of consumers, escalating economic inequalities, and tarnishing the trust we place in markets and institutions.

Trends 79
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Fostering the Right Culture FOR Innovation – The Vital Role of Psychological Safety in Leadership

Cris Beswick

Innovation has become one of the cornerstones of success because leaders know that failing to adapt and embrace new ideas risks their organisations being left behind by more agile competitors. However, innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum – it requires an environment where employees feel empowered to take risks, challenge assumptions, and contribute their unique perspectives without fear of negative consequences.

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Best Practices to Streamline Compensation Management: A Foundation for Growth

Speaker: Joe Sharpe and James Carlson

Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.