Archive: Nov 2013

  1. Bridging The Gap Between An Idea And Reality

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     “Ideas are dime a dozen. People who implement them are priceless.”

    Mary Kay Ash

    Converting an idea into reality can sometimes seem like a gigantic leap of faith into the potentially disastrous unknown. Saying that, great ideas are only made useless without the passion, lateral thinking and ‘let’s just go for it’ needed to implement them.

    So the question is – how do you bridge the gap between that great idea and the completed product?

    The main components of the bridge between an idea and reality are often time, money or resources. Ideas will regularly fall on these basic logistical requirements. But sometimes, the only thing that is stopping ideas from becoming a reality is courage. The courage to face the unknown, have faith in your idea and take a chance on it.

     

    Sound familiar?

     

    Glenn Llopis sees it as a fundamental problem with the modern workplace, where we are wired to only execute on what we are told to do. Unfortunately, this will only ever deliver immediate, short-term results.

    His research shows that employees are much more able to deliver on assigned tasks than on tasks that require free-thinking and an entrepreneurial attitude.

    To unleash the true potential of a team member, they need to be equipped with the confidence and resources to be able to think creatively, and see their ideas through to fruition.

    Those people that can implement ideas take the initiative, and believe in themselves and the idea enough to be able to meet unexpected obstacles head-on, and to accept accountability and responsibility for the project.

    They are able to help others understand their vision. Which means they have to be absolutely clear what that vision is and how to communicate it.  How will it deliver ROI? How will it benefit the organisation but more importantly how everyone can play their role in achieving it? While it is important to embrace the opinions and expertise of others, they go with their gut, and stay true to their founding vision.

    If you are a forward thinking organisation that wants to encourage creativity and an entrepreneurial attitude, then make sure that your team are empowered with the courage, freedom and resources to see their ideas through to reality. There is real value in someone that can turn an abstract idea into a complete product. Is your team made up of those priceless people that can implement ideas?

    Maybe it is, but you don’t realise it?

  2. The Power Of Mind…Maps

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    Could your organisation benefit from the ULTIMATE thinking tool?

    It’s been well known since Scientific American magazine published Ralph Haber’s research in 1970, that images are more evocative than words in triggering creative thinking and memory. Haber found that humans had a recognition accuracy of images between 85 and 95 percent.

    The mind map, therefore, best imitates the way our brains work, by incorporating its most significant ways of thinking into its own structure.

     

    “The mind map is the external mirror of your own radiant or natural thinking, which provides the universal key to unlock the dynamic potential of the brain”

    mindmapping.com

     

    Cool, huh? Imagine for a minute the power of being able to hold a mirror up to the creative cerebral potential of your team… imagine being able to maximize that potential? You could take on the world!

    The proven power of mind maps in team productivity, engagement and visual involvement make it an essential element of your meetings and conferences.

     

    What Is A Mind Map?

     

    Mimicking the creative process, the mind map begins with a single focus, the origin of your spider diagram. Like a tree, its branches radiate from the main trunk as that idea grows and develops. Branches carry separate key ideas into their own sub-sections, until, hopefully, the creative potential is exhausted. It literally ‘maps out’ your ideas.

     

    Unleash The Power

     

    By capturing all sessions using a mind map, your team will not only feel involved and engaged in the thinking process, but the conversations will continue with fully visualised points of reference.

    In this modern, technological age, software and apps are now the main engines of mind mapping. The power therefore extends to quick and easy sharing of idea maps, and even greater productivity. A survey by Chuck Frey, for example, found that users of mind mapping software experienced up to a 25% increase in productivity.

    Mind mapping might just be THE most effective means of communicating ideas and brainstorming problems. Not only does it enhance visual involvement and increase productivity, it also provides a visual, stimulating record of all creative exchanges and collaborations within your organisation, keeping them fresh in mind and memory.

    We think that’s a pretty powerful thing. Don’t you?

  3. Creating a Fertile Environment For Innovation

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    “Innovation as usual…” 

    Paddy Miller and Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg

    Innovation is the difference.

    Innovation is the single common denominator of all the top companies in the world. It is an essential component of a competitive and productive organisation, and of a highly energized, motivated and engaged workforce. Innovation has become a business imperative.

    And yet, frustratingly for many leaders and managers, it is not something you can project manage. It is not something you can quantify. It is not something that can be forced or directed.

    Innovation is not another policy directive that can be emailed around your team on a Monday morning – ‘This week, we are pushing a new company policy of “innovation.” We want you all to be more innovative. Your performance will be evaluated at the end of the week.’

    Innovation comes from the seeds of creative ideas. It is your job as a leader not to force innovation, but to shape your working environment so that it becomes a fertile ground for those seeds to grow naturally.

    It is your job to facilitate innovation, not insist upon it.

     

    Tending the fields of innovation…

     

    There is much debate about what kind of environment best stimulates innovation.

    We think of a fertile, innovative environment as one in which your team are encouraged to collaborate, get involved and bring new ideas to the table.

    It is about allowing the freedom and creativity that ideas need to grow into profitable actions. You need to ensure that your organisation is flexible enough that you are able to make changes and act on impulse before anyone else. A fertile environment also encourages collaboration as an essential part of innovation.

    Innovation must happen by invitation. Show your team that they don’t have to ask permission to think creatively, and to implement their ideas. Make innovation a structural part of everybody’s job. Don’t, for goodness sake, appoint an innovation team!

    Finally, it is important that you reward innovation. When your team takes the initiative to try bold new things that will ultimately enhance the organisation, they should be rewarded. Be innovative about how your reward them. Keep it interesting and fun!

    Given the right conditions, a little tending and encouragement, innovation will thrive as part of the usual, everyday workings of your organisation. You won’t even have to think about it. It will just happen.

    If you’d like any advice on how to cultivate an innovative environment within your organisation, give us a call!

  4. Exhibiting at CIPD

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    We took the opportunity to exhibit at the CIPD exhibition last week in Manchester – the UK’s largest gathering of HR professionals.

    Thousands of people descended upon the Manchester Central Convention Centre to explore and understand what their fellow professionals are up to. From our perspective, this was an opportunity for us to reach out to this large HR community and start making them aware of INVOLVE and what we do – our name is recognised more in the Comms and Engagement area rather than HR.

    Not only was it fun, but hugely productive and rewarding. It was interesting to see that we were one of the few businesses to be majoring on employee engagement. Many consultancies add it to their list of services but few seem to really specialise in it. Health and well-being seemed to be a hot topic, as well as coaching (exec) and resource management.

    To sweeten things up, we made a decision to transform our exhibition stand into a traditional looking sweet shop. Laid out on the counter were jars of sweets that represented how we help our clients. Refreshers represented Values Refreshing, cola-bottles symbolised increasing Cola-boration etc etc… It seemed to work too, as the CIPD made us Runners Up in their competition for best exhibition stand. Out of 300+ exhibitors, not bad for a little “sweet shop” tucked away in the corner!

    If we met you there and you’re reading this, please drop us a line and stay in touch. If not, we’ll see you next year…

  5. Wanted – Project Manager (Webcasting & Digital)

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    Here at INVOLVE, we are currently on the lookout for an exceptional project manager to join our rapidly growing agency.

    This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious person with remarkable project management skills and outstanding client service to make their mark in the industry. Working at INVOLVE, an award winning employee engagement agency, you will mainly be responsible for delivering projects from start to finish in our rapidly growing webcasting and digital teams. There will also be opportunities to offer your unique skills and expertise to other parts of the agency and support a wide range of projects including live and hybrid events.

    Amongst other things, some of the key aspects of this role would be; taking an initial brief from the client, working with internal teams to develop a suitable solution, managing internal teams to develop and deliver all elements of the project, general project planning and administration including scheduling, budgeting and creating technical specifications, managing suppliers, venues and studios, managing key clients and stakeholders, briefing and training clients and presenters and managing the event onsite – which can often be abroad.

    This opportunity is perfect for someone who wants to be an integral part of a dynamic multi-skilled team and is looking to blend exceptional project management, brilliant client facing skills and great technical knowledge in a leading agency.

     

    We are a values driven agency, looking for someone who:

    • Has worked for 3+ years in a client facing events role, ideally focused on webcasting/digital
    • Has a good understanding of streaming media and online events
    • Has a good understanding of live events and audience engagement
    • Has experience of quoting and managing budgets and delivering to tight timescales
    • Has a good understanding of digital media and technical AV production
    • Is able to effectively manage their own time and priorities
    • Is able to work autonomously or as part of a wider team
    • Has a proven track record of delivering exceptional client experiences
    • Has great communication skills both verbal and written

     

    If you feel that you’re right for this role and would like to discuss it further, please contact Andrew Bannister at abannister@involve.co.uk.

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