Posts Tagged ‘economic cycles’
The enemy of innovation
By Tom Asacker, as part of the Guest Blogger Series
“Mindless habitual behavior is the enemy of innovation.” - Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Have you noticed that every time the economy goes through its correctional dip (and this is one doozy of a dip) the business press hops on the innovation stump? So do most business leaders, and more and more they inappropriately cry “be innovative” when what they really mean is “be resourceful” (probably because it sounds more inspiring): “Times are tough people. We have to look for ways to do more with less. Let’s innovate!” It certainly sounds more scholarly than, “Let’s make do!” or “Buckle down!” But it’s still wrong. Innovation is not a mandated, disjointed course of action for optimizing daily activities. It’s a collaborative, strategic endeavor designed to add value to marketplace offerings, while increasing the value of one’s brand over time. And there’s the rub: “over time.”
I remember reading something prophetic in an entertaining tome by Mike Daisey called 21 Dog Years. In the book, (more…)
The crooked spine of American business
Why now is the time for executives and leaders to closely re-examine the health of their organizations and brands
By Ray Baird, Originally published on Gigabrand
Face it, 2009 was over for most businesses in October of 2008. The financial crisis, capital crunch and brittle confidence of customers caused business strategists and planners to pull back any future investment considerations in 2009. Everyone froze, waited and watched. We’re still watching. Now is the time to start leading.
Most American corporations have had to seriously reinvent or re-engineer themselves operationally just to stay alive and relevant in their markets. Flat became the acceptable up. I don’t know of one CEO that hasn’t been forced to make significant changes or make fundamental shifts that may have taken them many years to complete if not for the financial crisis.
Bottom line, American businesses have been bent out of shape. We’re out of alignment. Bordering on tampering with irrelevant value propositions. The broken promises of iconic brands have driven customer confidence to an all time low.
If American business is going to recover or rebound in the near future, CEOs and executives need to
Is it time to talk about growth again?
By Ryan Rieches, RiechesBaird
Talking about growth over the last nine months has been as popular as having a company retreat at a posh resort. It seems that this six letter word has been scorned more than most four letter words and usually brings out the response—Are you #*^&%+* kidding me?
I realize that the “Great Recession” continues to linger on but at some point companies have to realize that a defeatist attitude and continuous cost cutting while not investing in the business only works so long. I am not going to talk about the many studies on how investing in innovation and marketing during economic downturns results in significant returns compared to those who don’t—we have all seen the stats. I am talking more about a mindset. Of course the mindset starts at the top of any organization. There is opportunity in every economic cycle and some savvy leaders are taking advantage of their weaker contemporaries fears—and rightfully so.
Our industry is all about optimism, inspiration and creating value. I believe it is time we take that mindset to our clients and help them reach a new focus—what they can become and what their customers will desire. I believe it is time to start talking about growth again. We’ll leave the planning retreats to next year.