Treating Mistakes as Training

There’s the story of a top salesman who made a terrible mistake. He’d bought a vast amount of fruit. He thought it would be a bargain but had totally overestimated and his company was left with tons and tons of this rotting fruit. He arrived at his office the following day and started to tidy his papers, clearing his desk. He gets a call from his manager, “Could you pop up and see me?” she says. “Of course” he mumbles and slowly makes his way up the stairs to his boss’ office.

As he enters the room he says “Look I know I got it wrong – I’m sorry – I’ve written my letter of resignation – here it is ” and puts it on the desk.

His manager looks at the letter, rips it in half, rips it in half again and puts it in the bin. “You must be joking” she says smiling ” We’ve just spent £20,000 on your training – there’s no way you’re leaving until you’ve made that back for us.”

Source: Speed of Recovery by Byron Kalies

Courtesy: WWW.mgmtstories.com 

Pehchan Kaun......

Thought for Today

1.    "No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings."

- Peter Drucker 

The creative part of Human Imagination

10 Ways:

1. If you want to develop your creative imagination you must open your mind to new unexplored paths, think of offbeat ways to tackle a problem, make something that is hard - easier.

2. Be curious about everything - the world is full of amazing wonders for you to learn about. They will become your storehouse of memories and ideas that you can use when needed. 

3. Look deep into the problem you face and imagine different alternatives for solving the problem. Try new paths - don’t accept the status-quo, if you fail at one task try another approach. Take everything with a grain of salt, keep an open mind.

4. Try to associate with other creative people, people who discuss ideas. 

5. Always be on the lookout for new innovations that you can improve upon. When a new product, device or machine is invented it is already ripe for improving. Technology is always being improved. Just look at the automobile, since it was invented over a hundred years ago it has been constantly improved with thousands of new innovations added. 

6. This goes for any product, there is always room for improvement. Even if you come up with what seems to be a crazy way of solving a problem - write it down anyway - think about it - it may turn out to be a good idea.

7. Start thinking about writing a story, think of a plot, think up characters for the story, take notes and expand the story over a period of time. Refine and change the story if you want to. Take your time, new ideas will pop out of your subconscious as you think about it. It is your creation you can do anything you want with it, use you imagination.

8. Whether you are writing music or leading an army into battle keep your mind open for opportunities - new angles - different strategies - if one thing doesn’t work try another. 

9. Develop your interests and natural talents - follow these talents - be curious, learn as much as you can about subjects you are interested in and then improvise, develop, expand them. Follow different off beat paths. If they don’t work try another tack. 

10. Build upon the ideas of other people - improve and refine their ideas. It is the fundamental reason for human progress. It created the ‘Mind’ of mankind (the vast network of human minds that continually spread ideas across time and place).

Isaac Newton once said - “If I have been able to see further then others - it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants”. Human progress is a step by step process.

Good luck - use your imaginative power wisely.
Coutesy: http://novan.com/dvlpimag.htm

Pehchan Kaun......

Thought for Today

"Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes."                                                       -Peter Drucker 

Creativity Cues

"Creativity is the process of creating something new and it is important both for an individual and an organization for their growth."

All the skills and behavioral factors are developed over a period of time by experiences and many times by deliberate learning initiatives. Problem solving and decision making are linked and each requires creativity in identifying and finding options. Innovative ideas develop in a positive environment. The difference lies in the extent to which an individual has already imbibed such creativity and what efforts are required to elevate it to the desired level. 

CULTIVATING CREATIVITY

Creativity needs to be enhanced otherwise it dies down. Creativity involves two processes – thinking and producing. Innovation is the production or implementation of an idea. If you have ideas but don’t act on them, you are imaginative but not creative. Generative research shows that everyone has creative abilities. The more diverse is the training greater the potential for creative output. An average adult thinks of three to six alternatives for any given situation. The average child thinks of 60. Organizations can conduct creativity testing at workplace firstly to identify the creativity domains in their employees. They can invite experts from various fields to conduct workshops. 

So here are few ways to unleash creativity in a workplace:

One need necessarily be outspoken or extroverted to be a success in public relations. However, a good public relations professional must possess the ability to understand the consumer to whom he or she is communicating a message to and the ability to communicate messages effectively to audiences. 

There is no one generalized answer to this question. A number of independent firms in each of these areas are being set up each month; some of them succeed and some do not as in any business. Freelancers do well if they deliver credible solutions and are certainly sought after especially if their fees are lower than large agencies. 

There are indeed no good courses in digital advertising on offer today. It is important to remember that digital advertising is to different from any other advertising, only the medium changes. The advertising bit remains the same – the task is to create ideas that sell products and services if one understands the scope of the medium and the new technologies that go will it, one needn’t go through a course to learn creativity again. 

Organizational Motivation 

Organizational innovation is a much bigger game than individual innovation. It is a game (as in method of games) and a process (facilitation process). The method is – an experienced facilitator through the use of tools of facilitation channels individual creativity. The facilitator encourages and provides tools to individuals to build on each others’ ideas and finally (in one or two days of intensive workshop) come up with commercially and technically implement able innovations.

Appreciative Inquiry 

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a good method for unleashing creativity leading to innovation. While the first Appreciative inquiry workshop on unleashing creativity leading to innovation can be delivered by an experienced AI facilitator it should not be handled as standalone workshops to be conducted by trainers to spark some kind of ignition. Line managers should be trained to conduct. 

Experienced facilitators 

Identify experienced facilitators at top level of creativity and innovation movement to facilitate innovation as an organizational movement. If experienced facilitators are not available within the organization, consultants should be called in to help identify people with potential and train them. 

Motivation and reward 

Employees wish to be recognized as individuals and given appreciation. Support the employee’s creativity by engaging in brainstorming meetings and suitably reward employees for their effort. 

Freedom of expression 

Executive Vice President HR and administration, HDFC Standard Life opines An organizations has to provide the platform and give the employees opportunities to unleash the creativity. 

Positive Ambience 

Make office ambience psychologically relaxing with inspiring posters, comfortable seating soothing colors, fish tank, nd flowers etc which often help in stimulating creativity. A positive ambience can invigorate motivate and inspire. 

At times many organizations have is. So take necessary steps ad let the employees be at their creative best!


Courtesy: www.citeman.com