Innovation Upturn

Bill Gates recently said, “We are in an economic downturn but an innovation upturn.” Most people are focusing on the downturn and the dangers it poses rather than on the opportunity for innovation. Most businesses are restructuring, streamlining their operations, reducing headcount, cutting budgets and re-forecasting.

How can you maximize your chances in the change maelstrom? One way is to take a positive approach to change and to be seen as an innovative go-getter who will help make the difference.

If you have the right people in the right jobs then use them!! They can be your biggest asset. They are as much concerned about their company as you are; it’s their jobs that could be on the line.

This is the time when some companies who are prepared to embrace change, exploit new ideas and generate real creativity can make a killing. Alternatively you can go along with a lot of other companies and continue preaching doom and gloom and “it’s the seventies all over again” It’s easy to analyse the past but you have to create and design the future. How can you be one of the really successful companies in 2008/9?

The Innovators Toolkit is one option. Based on the tools and techniques of thinking and creativity from Dr Edward de Bono (who is recognised as the world’s leading authority in creativity) it is one way to engage your people (the one’s that matter) to not only generate the ideas but also to harvest and evaluate them. The result? High value ideas exclusively for your company.

Go to http://www.holstgroup.co.uk/the_innovators_toolkit.php for more information and links to other creative courses that can and will make the difference.

Stuart Scott