Succeeding in a Slowing Economy

Organizational Success During Times of Economic Stress With the specter of a looming “economic downturn” upon us, many business leaders are being forced to tighten their belts and rethink their future expenditures. During times like this, off-site retreats and holiday parties are doubtless going to take a lower priority. The irony is now – when things are most challenging for both businesses and their clients – it is even more... [Read More...]

Trust is at the Root of Innovation

I work part-time as a school teacher at a local Montessori school here in Maryland.  My students are ages 3 to 14 years-old and one of the best parts of teaching them is the creativity and ingenuity they possess, seemingly without even trying.  They share their questions, ideas and dreams with me, and we all benefit from the experience.  The reason they tell me their ideas, no matter how outrageous they might be, is the bond of trust we share. ... [Read More...]

Teams Benefit from Slowing Economy

A Slow Economy is Time for Business Process Improvement You’re probably thinking “How could anyone benefit from a slowing economy?” Well, this statement certainly needs clarification.  Not every team will benefit from economic hardship.  In fact, many teams will shrink (labor statistics are a blatant example of this sad reality) and many benefits will be cut.  Managers and business owners are ‘tightening their belts.’ For... [Read More...]

Focusing the Creative Collaboration Process

Creative Collaboration for Team Performance Creative Collaboration is a process through which a team can generate highly innovative ideas with excellent buy-in from the members of the creative team. The Process of Team Creativity is as follows: Focus – Focus the team on the task/problem/process, etc…  Take the time to be sure the team is clear on the objectives. Generate Ideas – Brainstorm ideas, categorize them, and define a system... [Read More...]