| Innovation Culture Review |
| Invention Development Advice - Ideas | |||
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Innovation depends on ideas, which come from people. By creating a culture of trust, respect, and integrity; any business can start drawing out new ideas from their people. (Of course, this is easier said than done. Culture changes do not happen overnight.) Imagine yourself working for your business...
Trust: Can you talk openly to your colleagues and your boss about work-related matters? How prevalent is the “cover my arse” attitude? If you spot a problem, or have an idea; do you excitedly tell your colleagues and your boss? Or no one cares? Is there a sense of working towards a broadly similar goal? Or are there clear divisions and disparate agendas amongst different groups and departments? Are people being rewarded for contributing to the business’ cause? Or are they being rewarded for being bullies, or for pursuing their own agendas?
Respect: Are expectations clearly articulated by your manager? Do you participate in the development of your role and the definition of your contributions? Are you encouraged to think about what you do? Are you empowered to make your own decisions and work your own way (within reason of course); as long as the outcomes are achieved? Are you working under a contract filled more with threats than goodwill? Are you being watched at work? Are your email and phone calls recorded? Do you feel accepted for who you are and what you bring to the business? Are your feelings and perceptions often dismissed as “wrong”?
Integrity: Does management practice “do as I say, not as I d0”? Is everyone, including management, broadly treated similarly and fairly? Do people around you, including management, tend to take responsibility for their successes and mistakes? Are the people around you generally up-front and truthful about things? Assuming she is capable, would you want your elderly grandmother to be working under the same conditions that you do?
By Zern Liew To find out how Zern can help you communicate or work better, visit http://eicolab.com.au/services/ and http://eidesign.com.au/services/ For more tips, tools and innovation thought-provokers, visit http://eicolab.com.au/blog/
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