There are SO many things that you could be doing to grow your business, but only 24 hours in a day. So how do you decide which ideas will make the most difference to your bottom line? And how do you get results – fast? Tune in to Idea Time for tools, tips and interviews to find out how.
Do you want to build a thriving innovation ecosystem for your company or organization? If you're looking to create an environment where ideas, people, and opportunities come together to drive real results, this episode is for you. Here's what we'll cover: What an innovation ecosystem is. Why a thriving innovation ecosystem is critical for collaboration, growth, and staying competitive. Key components of a successful ecosystem We'll look at shared purpose, diverse participants, and the communication that ties it all together. Steps to build and sustain your ecosystem - from setting a clear vision and mapping stakeholders to promoting open innovation and encouraging collaboration. This session is practical, to the point, and full of useful tips. It also features current, real examples. Whether you're a leader, innovator, or part of a team working on partnerships or development, you'll walk away with ideas you can put into action. I'd love to read your questions and thoughts in the comments. I'll reply personally to them all. For the article that accompanies this webinar, go to: https://bigbangpartnership.co.uk/how-to-build-a-thriving-innovation-ecosystem/ For my book, Leading Sustainable Innovation, order here and use the discount code KOGANPAGE20 : https://www.koganpage.com/responsible-business/leading-sustainable-innovation-9781398616684
Sometimes a promising idea or discovery is so exciting that it's tempting to rush ahead, risking missing key steps along the way. Other times, it's challenging to figure out how to progress the innovation at speed and scale, causing it to get stuck. In this episode, I explain how Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)—originally created by NASA in the 1970s and now used internationally—provide a valuable framework for identifying and communicating the maturity level of your sustainable innovation. TRLs can help you build a roadmap to ensure your innovation makes the impact you want it to make. Don't let the term 'Technology Readiness Levels' put you off if you're not in tech. TRLs are used for all kinds of sustainable innovations, including new products and services, materials, engineering, medical solutions, and more. I cover what TRLs are, where they came from and why, how to use them, and most importantly, how to progress your sustainable innovation from an idea to an applied solution that makes a real impact. For my article on this topic, please go to What are TRLs? Technology Readiness Levels Explained.
Company values are more than words on a wall or a website. They're the heartbeat of an organization, guiding decisions and behaviors. Yet, bringing them to life is where many companies struggle. In this show, I share practical ways to help your team infuse your company's values into your everyday work. I'll share: How to facilitate workshops with your team to identify behaviours for every role that embody your values Why and how to make your values the foundation of your business decisions, hiring practices and recognition programs Keeping your values front-of-mind with storytelling and visual communication How to check-in and monitor your progress
Join me in this dynamic session on creative thinking techniques to elevate your strategy and innovation sprints, workshops and meetings. Whether you're looking to tackle complex problems or pave the way for fresh, more ambitious ideas, this session will equip you with practical techniques to think creatively and act innovatively. We'll cover: Foundations of Creative Thinking: Understand the core principles that underpin creative thought and how it can transform your approach to strategy and innovation. Techniques and Tools: Explore a range of tried-and-tested techniques to stimulate creative thinking and apply these tools in your work. Real-World Applications: See how organizations have successfully applied creative thinking techniques to solve problems and innovate. This show is ideal for business professionals, team leaders, managers, and anyone looking to: Enhance strategic thinking with creative approaches. Drive innovation within teams or organizations. Solve complex problems with out-of-the-box solutions. #creativethinking #psychologyofcreativity #innovation #strategy
This podcast, "How to Facilitate a Scenario Planning Workshop", will guide you through using scenario planning to help you to develop and strengthen your sustainable innovation strategy. Key takeaways: Understanding sustainable innovation: Balance environmental, societal, and economic impacts for long-term success
Stakeholder mapping is a strategic process used in innovation, project management and business planning. It involves identifying and analyzing individuals, groups, or organizations that can impact or be impacted by a project or business activity. The goal is to understand these stakeholders' interests, influence, and the nature of their involvement. By mapping stakeholders, innovators can better navigate complex environments, minimize risks, and leverage support for successful outcomes. In this mini-show, I share helpful ideas on how to facilitate stakeholder mapping, an essential tool for innovators, design thinks and project leaders. We cover some practical techniques for identifying, mapping, and prioritizing stakeholders, how to develop tailored communication strategies and why keeping your stakeholder map updated is vital.
In this content-packed live show, I dive into Horizon Scanning & Foresight for Innovators. No crystal balls, prophecies or predicting the future, though! Horizon scanning is about detecting weak signals of potential change before they make it big. It keeps you prepared, and gives you and your innovation strategy a competitive edge. In this show, I share: What horizon scanning is, and why it's important The differences between foresight, forecasts and prediction What ‘weak signals' are, and how to spot them Emerging trends Tips and approaches for horizon scanning in a fast-moving, information-dense world How to do horizon scanning with your team Data for horizon scanning A horizon scanning toolkit, including:Seven Questions interview technique The Delphi technique Futures Wheel Text Mining – using AI to scan through large sets of text data, spotting trends in news, social media, or academic publications. Cross-impact analysis Scenario planning Importance / certainty matrix Transformation maps It really is a value-packed whopper of a show – ideal for you if you're planning your innovation and business growth strategy. I also share how you can access my free horizon scanning toolkit. As always, I'd love your comments and questions on my social channels!
This episode is a really good one if you're interested in leading sustainable innovation in your business. I go in-depth on how to facilitate a successful Business Sustainability Workshop for your team. I give you a start-to-finish guide on how and what to prepare, a workshop agenda with specific activities and tips to turn your ideas into action after your event. What I cover: Workshop Preparation: Why having a solid plan for your workshop or sprint is crucial and what materials and information you should prepare in advance. Circular Economy Principles: How to incorporate these into your business model and why it matters. Resource Flow Analysis: Pinpoint waste and inefficiencies in your processes and develop a plan to tackle them. Stakeholder Perspectives: Understand sustainability concerns from various stakeholders' perspectives, enhancing your corporate social responsibility efforts. Building a Roadmap: Building your sustainability plan. As always, please do share your ideas and questions in the comments on my social channels, it will be great to hear from you!
In this episode, I dive into the world of sustainable business model innovation and discuss why it's essential in the contemporary business environment. Key topics I cover are: The rising demand for sustainability from customers and the global trend towards sustainable value propositions. Examples of businesses committing to Net Zero targets. The role of sustainability in attracting and retaining talent, and the link between environmental ethics and job satisfaction. The creation of new opportunities through sustainable business model innovation, such as supply chain innovations. The definition of a sustainable business model and the purpose of innovating one. Steps to build a sustainable business model: deconstructing products and services, walking through business processes, focusing on people, and using data for continuous improvement.
Open innovation is all about expanding your business horizons. Instead of keeping all your ideas and projects in-house, you collaborate with external partners, startups, or customers. This approach speeds up innovation, cuts costs, and could give your business the competitive edge it needs. Tune into my livestream to learn how you can make open innovation work for you. Get to Know Open Innovation I'll start off by demystifying what open innovation really means. I'll explain the difference between open and closed innovation models. Real-World Cases Hear about companies that have thrived by adopting open innovation. Their success stories could be inspiration for your business. Practical Benefits I'll cover the ROI of implementing open innovation strategies. Learn about faster product development, cost reduction, and increased creativity within your organization. How to Get Started Thinking about jumping in? I'll provide actionable steps on how you can integrate and facilitate open innovation into your business operations.
In this episode of the Idea Time show, I cover what Appreciative Inquiry is and show you how you could use the process of Appreciative Inquiry to create and facilitate highly effective, strengths-focused innovation. Appreciative Inquiry means recognising, exploring and building on the positive, aligning with strengths-based development. It is all about reframing, and, starting from the position of asking, ‘What are we doing well?', ‘What are the good things?', ‘What are we great at?', ‘What are the positives that we have got to offer?' Having a positive focus is optimistic, empowering and motivational, and for these reasons Appreciative Inquiry can be a powerful ingredient for achieving positive change, innovation and growth – for people and organizations. My focus in this episode is how to do this in practice, including a full agenda for an Appreciative Inquiry-based workshop or sprint, with tools, techniques and activities that you can use.
Having a lot of ideas after a brainstorming session? Unsure which to pick? I've got you covered. In this show, I'll introduce you to 8 proven innovation frameworks that can help. These tools can be used individually or in group settings. Pick what's best for your scenario. Innovation Frameworks to Discuss: Idea Sorter MoSCoW Method The KJ Method (Kawakita Jiro Method) RICE Scoring Method Kano Model WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) Eisenhower Box (or Urgent-Important Matrix) Ivy Lee Method Think I've overlooked one? Let me know in the comments, and I'll include it! Looking forward to seeing you there. #innovation #facilitation #designsprints #designthinking #innovationstrategy
In this podcast episode I'm joined by my very special guest, TV producer and presenter, entrepreneur, 2x award-winning author, and elite carp angler, Ali Hamidi. Ali is the founder and CEO of One More Cast Ltd, a big dream that has become reality. Ali's focus has been to create a brand with premium fishing tackle and outdoor products to cater for a wide range of situations. He's obsessive about customer engagement to drive future product development alongside the business' extensive experience in the fishing tackle industry, accessories and clothing. Not only does Ali love producing fishing products, he's also a passionate content creator with new TV series on ITV and Viasat (International) called the Grand Fishing Adventure and of course an ever growing YouTube channel and Social Media platforms. Ali was the marketing and media talent that helped grow the Korda brand from a kitchen table business to a multi-million company. He's also produced and starred in tv shows The Big Fish Off, Thinking Tackle, Monster Carp, Fishing All Stars. In this episode, we explore Ali's entrepreneurial business journey to date, and how he builds online relationships and communities of people who support the brand. Ali shares how he has taken a hands-on approach to successfully teaching himself new product design and development. He also tells us how he got into tv, developing relationships at Sky and ITV. I loved catching up with Ali. He's such an inspiration, and this episode is packed with down-to-earth tips, insights and advice. Ali and I hope you enjoy it. We'd love to hear what you think. To connect with Ali Hamidi: Instagram Facebook YouTube LinkedIn #entrepreneurship #innovation #newproductdevelopment #npd #businessgrowth #contentcreation
Harness the power of Design Thinking! A dynamic approach to problem-solving that promotes human-centricity, encourages creativity, and celebrates practicality. Join me as we explore:
Welcome to another exciting episode of the Idea Time podcast. In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Brian Tam, a renowned creative strategist based in Lisbon. Brian is dedicated to helping small to medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs globally innovate and grow. Here's a rundown of what you can expect from this episode: Global Experience and Perspectives on Innovation: Brian has a wealth of experience working in various parts of the world, from the US to Shanghai, and now Lisbon. His unique perspectives on innovation, moulded by his rich global experiences, bring a refreshing take on the subject. The Importance of Reflection and Thoughtful Thinking: Brian shares his insights into the pivotal role of reflection in personal growth and business innovation. Discover how taking the time to think critically can propel your innovative endeavors forward. Adapting and Thriving in a Changing World: We delve into how businesses can navigate the continually evolving global landscape, especially in the context of ongoing technological advancements. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Its Potential Implications: We discuss the impact of AI on our daily lives and its possible future roles. Brian provides useful tips on leveraging AI for enhancing creativity, brainstorming, and driving efficiency. The Power of Workshops and Collaboration: Brian and I explore the significance of collaborative efforts in workshops. Learn about various techniques that can supercharge collaboration and result in successful business strategies. Brian's Passion for Business and Strategy: Get to know more about Brian's love for all things business and strategy and how this passion is shaping his approach to helping businesses innovate and grow. This episode is packed full of insights, tips, and inspiring conversations. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or simply someone interested in the world of innovation and strategy, there's something here for you. We'd love to hear your thoughts, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us after the episode. Enjoy! Contact Brian on Instagram at @letsmakegreat Links: www.letsmakegreat.com www.proto-start.com Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Awrignawl-Creativity-Inspirations-Originality-Transformation/dp/109692837X Brian's Biography: Brian loves entrepreneurship! Since founding Let's Make Great! in 2013, he has worked with hundreds of founders and innovators to systematically develop new products, services, and brand. Using a combination of empathetic coaching and startup consulting, Brian guides clients to both examine blind spots and attack new opportunities, leading to accelerated growth. From discovery to diagnosis, and experimentation to execution, he guides clients in a step-by-step process, to methodically achieve breakthrough results together. In addition to keynote speeches at conferences like TEDx and PechaKucha, Brian has written over 500 articles on creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, in 2017 he led the creation of PROTO, a successfully crowd-funded storytelling game to inspire innovators. Born in New York and proudly raised in New Jersey, Brian spent the past 14 years in Shanghai, China to drive the dynamic changes emerging there. Also an avid cyclist, he has cycled around Taiwan and is currently enjoying his next big adventure in Europe. #creativestrategy #entrepreneurship #innovation #businessgrowth #businessstrategy
I'm joined by my special guest, Patrick Dunne, for an in-depth exploration of innovation and entrepreneurship in the boardroom. Patrick Dunne is an experienced Chair with extensive experience of working with boards in Europe, Asia and North America. Currently Chair of board consultancy Boardelta, the charities The EY Foundation and ESSA- Education Sub Saharan Africa as well as Chair of the oversight board for the Chartered Management Consultant and trustee of the Chartered Management Institute. He's the author of the award-winning “Boards” and three other successful books on the subject and was a member of the Higgs Review. He also has extensive experience of developing social enterprises. In this episode, we delve into the common attributes shared by successful, innovative boards and outline strategies for nurturing these qualities. Highlights from the Discussion Decoding Innovation: More than just inventing new products or processes, innovation embodies the creation of successful solutions that make a genuine impact. This often requires challenging conventional thinking and the willingness to pave new paths. Problem Identification and Evidence-Based Strategies: Innovative solutions are often born out of clearly identified and thoroughly understood problems. These solutions should be anchored in robust evidence and rigorous research, thus blending bright ideas with thorough testing and validation. Complacency and Over-Innovation in Boards: While complacency can curb innovation, an excess of innovation without realizing the value from existing products or services also carries risks. The optimal approach is to understand and exploit the lifecycle of your product or service, planning for the next growth phase before hitting a plateau. Encouraging Innovation through Diversity: Innovation can be fostered by integrating diverse viewpoints. The use of horizon boards or shadow boards, which include younger or non-board members, can introduce fresh insights and challenges. Understanding changing trends and diverse consumer behaviors is essential. Cultivating a Culture of Innovation: The goal is to nurture a culture that invites challenges, appreciates various skillsets, and values everyone's contribution. Hiring driven individuals, fostering a challenging and creative environment, and recognizing the importance of delivery-focused individuals can all contribute to a vibrant innovative culture. Self-Awareness in Board Members and Leaders: Leaders must be self-aware to make effective decisions, coordinate activities, and manage conflicts. Seeking feedback, reflecting on performance, observing, and learning from others, and having a good mentor or coach can significantly assist in this development. Practical tools like 360-degree feedback can be valuable when used correctly. Also, understanding the impact you have on others can be a powerful tool for self-awareness. Open conversations and genuine humility can help enhance this understanding. Traits for Aspiring Board Members and Leaders: To foster an innovative environment, leaders must be open-minded, promote curiosity, encourage diversity, stay updated about relevant trends, and view failures as learning opportunities. A blend of humility and confidence can also be particularly powerful. Building Confidence and Combining it with Humility: Confidence building can be achieved through self-awareness and a willingness to ask for feedback. Self-awareness should apply to both strengths and weaknesses. Over-interpreting or misinterpreting people's responses can sometimes hamper confidence. A focus on the outcome, rather than individual interactions, can help. Effectiveness and Pressure Management: There is a relationship between how effective people are and the pressure they're under. Delegating tasks appropriately and focusing on things that make a material difference can help maintain the right balance between effectiveness and pressure. Our hope is that this episode offers valuable insights into promoting innovation within your organization. Being innovative isn't just about constant disruption; it's about fostering an environment where everyone feels enabled to contribute and create. It's about transforming the spark of an idea into a successful, valuable solution. Patrick Dunne's Biography Experienced Chair with extensive experience of working with boards in Europe, Asia and North America. Currently Chair of board consultancy Boardelta and the charities The EY Foundation and ESSA- Education Sub Saharan Africa. Executive experience with Air Products and FTSE 100 investor 3i Group plc where he was Communications Director, a member of its Operating committee and Chair of its Operational Risk forum. He is also a former member of the advisory Board of Bridges Social entrepreneurs fund and has started up 3 successful social enterprises in the UK and in Africa. He has also helped Chairs across a wide range of sectors to transform the effectiveness of their boards through Boardelta and is the author of the award winning “Boards” and three other successful books on the subject. Patrick was member of the Higgs Review and has helped to establish many successful courses on board skills over the last twenty years including for the BVCA, Invest Europe and the Financial Times as well as for numerous commercial and social sector organisations. He has a passion for education and was a member of the General Council of the University of Warwick from 2006 to 2015. He is a Visiting Professor at Cranfield School of Management an Associate Fellow at Warwick Business School and a former Trustee of the Chartered Management Institute and Chair of the Oversight Board for the Chartered Management Consultant accreditation. Patrick also has extensive experience of developing social enterprises, most notably with Leap Confronting Conflict where he is Patron and was Chair, from 2006 to 2015, with ESSA- Education Sub-Saharan Africa which he founded in 2016, the EY Foundation and with Warwick in Africa which he founded in 2006. Warwick in Africa has now benefitted over 750,000 young Africans with transformed Maths and English teaching.
In this week's show, I'll explore the powerful synergy between growth mindset and lean innovation. I'll share how to create a culture that fosters creativity, resilience, and efficiency, empowering your business to innovate effectively and stay ahead of the curve. Here's what I'll cover: Growth Mindset
In this episode, guest Amanda Webb of Spiderworking guides us on using Google Analytics and social media data for innovation and growth. She discusses the transition from Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4, emphasizing its role in providing crucial insights into website visitors and their behavior. Amanda illustrates how to use these tools to test market reception of a new product idea, guide content creation, and drive engagement. She also shares how businesses can use these analytics to understand and engage with new audiences. A valuable listen for business owners and marketers, this episode demonstrates how to leverage free, easily accessible data to boost digital marketing ROI. Access Amanda's brilliant, free guide to Google Analytics for Idea Time podcast listeners Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn More about Amanda Webb Amanda from Spiderworking works with businesses to improve their digital marketing ROI. When you don't know if your marketing is bringing sales, or don't know how to get more sales, she's the person you turn to. Her content on the Spiderworking blog has won her awards nationally and internationally and she just loves to talk marketing. She has written for international websites including Social Bakers, Social Media Examiner and AgoraPulse. When she's not working she loves watching Dr. Who, playing with her cats and watching films.
I'm excited to introduce special guest, Ian Anderson Gray, to my show this week. Ian helps us to gain confidence in front of the camera, improve communication skills and feel even better about live video and presenting in online meetings. Ian is the founder of the Confident Live Marketing Academy and is the host of the Confident Live Marketing Podcast. He helps entrepreneurs to level up their impact, authority and profits by using live video confidently. He's also the founder of Seriously Social - a blog focused on live video and social media tools. He's an international speaker, trainer, teacher, and consultant. He has a passion for making the techno-babble of live video and social media marketing easy to understand. As well as being a geek, husband, and dad to two kids, Ian is a professional singer and lives near Manchester in the UK. As always, please share your questions, comments, and ideas whether you're watching live or on replay. Ian and I will respond to every single one.
In this fascinating episode, I have the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Joanna Berry, an esteemed professor at Durham University and a luminary in the field of entrepreneurship. Dr. Berry is not just an academic, but a seasoned entrepreneur who successfully transitioned from running her own business to developing the next generation of entrepreneurs. We delve deeply into the fascinating world of entrepreneurial mindset - a subject often misunderstood and underestimated. Dr. Berry demystifies what it truly means to have an entrepreneurial mindset, going beyond the confines of business startups and corporate environments. She offers insights into why this mindset is not just a luxury for the business-oriented, but a valuable life skill that can unlock potential in various facets of our lives. Dr. Berry generously shares her wealth of knowledge on how to cultivate this mindset. She provides practical tips and strategies that listeners can immediately apply, whether they're embarking on a start-up venture, climbing the corporate ladder, or simply navigating life's challenges. What sets this episode apart is Dr. Berry's personal journey. Her story is a testament to the power of the entrepreneurial mindset. From starting her own business to becoming a distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, she illustrates the transformative power of applying entrepreneurial principles in real life. One of my favorite takeaways from our conversation is a quote from Dr. Berry: "You can't climb a mountain by starting at the top." It's a powerful reminder that the journey to success is a process, and each step, no matter how small, brings us closer to our goals. This episode is packed with insightful perspectives, practical advice, and inspiring anecdotes. If you're looking to understand the entrepreneurial mindset, learn practical strategies to cultivate it, or simply enjoy an engaging discussion with a leading figure in entrepreneurship, this episode is for you. Dr. Joanna Berry and I would love to hear your thoughts on the episode. Did you have a favorite moment? What did you take away from our discussion? We welcome your feedback and encourage you to share your reflections. Enjoy the show! Dr. Joanna Berry's biography As Associate Dean, External Engagement for the Faculty of Business Joanna works closely with regional, national and international industry partners, as well as the School Executive Education team. She undertakes a wide variety of public and media activities on behalf of the School and University. Joanna is Associate Professor (Entrepreneurship) at the Business School, and Director (Business, Enterprise and Innovation) of Durham University's globally renowned Durham Energy Institute ("DEI"). She sits on the University COP Steering Group and is Co-Programme Director of the new MSc in Energy Engineering Management, a joint programme run with Durham's Engineering Department which launches in September 2023. She is Pathway Leader for the MBA Entrepreneurship Pathway, winning the 2020 Durham University Enhancing Learning and Teaching: Digital and Online Learning Award. Joanna is a trustee and Board member of Acumen Community Buildings (where she focuses on community businesses and social enterprise). She was Regional Chair for the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Regional Vice-Chair for the Institute of Directors' Northeast branch. She is a Governor at Newcastle's Royal Grammar School where she sits on the Strategy and the EDI Committees, and she is an International Governor at Gifted Minds International School, Hoofddorp, Netherlands. Joanna's professional experience runs from her Oxford University law degree in 1985 and encompasses not only law (mostly company and contract, practiced in South Africa from 1985 to 1987) but also science, creativity and technology. These interests are underpinned by significant and long-term exposure to new developments in media, marketing and advertising. Joanna's entrepreneurial spirit is underpinned by a deep and broad range of regional, national and international corporate and public sector contacts which she builds into her day-to-day activities. Her MBA dissertation focused on the impact of broadband connectivity on the TV industry, and her PhD took this one step further, looking into the impact of technology on the music industry's business models and value chains. Her research and teaching interests encompass Problem Based Learning, energy and renewables, innovation, entrepreneurship, big data, ageing and health and the digital/creative industries. She has a particular emphasis on supporting women in business, and women in STEM in a variety of ways. She works closely with the Executive Education team and undertakes a wide variety of public and media activities on behalf of the School and University. She is nominated as Mentor of the Year and Agent of Change in the 2023 Northern Power Women Awards, was delighted to achieve a position on the Northern Power Women Power List from 2020 and is a member of the NPW Newcastle and Teesside Power Circles. Connect with Dr. Joanna Berry Email: joanna.berry@durham.ac.uk Links Northern Power Women Social Enterprise Acumen Durham University Business School Durham Energy Institute #innovation #entrepreneurship #growthmindset #entrepreneurialmindset #strategy
Welcome to Data Pioneers: A Digital Innovation Case Study, featuring Simon Jefferson from Catsurveys! In this episode, we're shifting the spotlight from big brands to small and medium-sized B2B companies that are trailblazing their way to innovation success. Joining us today is Simon Jefferson, who will share how Catsurveys has masterfully introduced a game-changing, data-driven digital innovation alongside their existing business model. We'll dive into topics that are crucial for businesses seeking to innovate, including: Collaborating with customers across various industries from traditional sectors to more progressive ones, as they embrace innovation Fostering an innovative culture and nurturing a dynamic workplace that drives innovation success Seamlessly integrating innovation into the company's core DNA, rather than treating it as an add-on to everyday tasks Tune in and uncover invaluable insights from Simon's experience in driving Catsurveys towards innovation excellence! About Catsurveys: Catsurveys, an award-winning multidisciplinary surveying company, specializes in delivering comprehensive data solutions for large-scale infrastructure projects across the UK. With a focus on underground utility detection, they play a vital role in the successful execution of critical national infrastructure developments, earning their clients' trust and confidence. By merging top-tier talent, a dedication to quality and continuous improvement, and state-of-the-art technology, Catsurveys offers detailed data for both above and below ground environments. This enables customers to design, plan, and complete construction projects safely and sustainably, ensuring optimal outcomes for significant infrastructure endeavors. About Simon: Simon has 20 years' experience in the utilities sector holding senior commercial roles across both regulated and non-regulated businesses, developing successful commercial strategies in a variety of markets. Simon is responsible for the commercial oversight of the business ensuring that all Catsurveys' activity is commercially viable and underpins the strategic direction of the business. Simon's also accountable for developing new business opportunities and expanding Catsurveys' brand into new markets and sectors ensuring that the business has a robust commercial strategy that supports growth. A passionate advocate of innovation and positive disruption Simon is focused on how Catsurveys can maximise the value of innovative new technologies and digital solutions, collaborating with customers to introduce these in a positive way that delivers real value. In his spare time Simon tries to find time between a busy family life to run a little bit, preferably in the hills. Contact Simon Simon Jefferson on LinkedIn Catsurveys Ltd on LinkedIn Catsurveys Website
Are you looking to enhance your organization's understanding of the customer perspective and provide a better customer experience? If yes, then a customer journey mapping workshop is just what you need. Int his podcast, I will guide you through the fundamentals of customer journey mapping, share how to facilitate a successful workshop, and create insightful before-and-after customer journey maps. Here's what I cover: What is Customer Journey Mapping and why it's invaluable for all types of businesses Key steps to creating an effective Customer Journey Map Examples of successful Customer Journey Maps Preparation for your Customer Journey Mapping Workshop Co-creating a Customer Journey Map with real customers Customer Journey Mapping Workshop agenda and activities Validating your new Customer Journey Examples of Customer Journey Mapping software tools Useful references and resources Please do share your questions, comments, and ideas on LinkedIn. I'll respond to each one of them. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your organization's customer experience and become even more customer-centric.
Lead Productive, Effective, and Fun Retrospective Meetings How are your retrospective, or ‘lessons learned', meetings going?
20 times published author, international speaker and facilitator Paul Sloane is my guest on this episode of the Idea Time Innovation Podcast. Paul Sloane is an author and speaker on lateral thinking, creativity, and the leadership of innovation. He has written over 20 books on these subjects. The latest, published by Kogan Page, is Lateral Thinking for Every Day. He gives talks and workshops and his corporate clients include Nike, Microsoft, Bayer and Unilever. His most recent online course on Udemy is entitled, How to be a Brilliant Thinker. Topics we cover in the episode include: What lateral thinking is, and why it's important for business, even in challenging times How to avoid over-conformity and group think How to build and lead workplace innovation and build a more creative culture Strategies for low cost, low risk innovation Creative facilitation tools, activities and techniques that get teams thinking more innovatively in brainstorming sessions to generate more, even better ideas Real examples of lateral thinking and innovative growth in organizations For my articles and tips on Innovation Culture: Ten Steps to an Innovation Culture How to build an Innovative Culture in 2023 - 8 top tips Paul and I would love to hear what you think. Do please let us know in the comments. Follow Paul on Twitter @paulsloane; Contact Paul on Linkedin
Paul Slater from the change shed is today's podcast guest. Paul's an expert on change culture and transformation. In this episode we focus on how to build an innovative culture in your organisation. We talk about what an innovative culture is, what it means in practice, what it means for leaders, and speculate on the future of AI and its interaction with employee creativity. Topics include: What is an innovative culture? Why is it important to build an innovation culture in organizations? The essential ingredients of a positive innovation culture Practical steps that leaders and senior managers can take to build an innovative culture, with real examples. The role of internal innovation ecosystems in creating intellectual capital in organizations. How AI might complement and extend employee creativity Articles and tips on Innovation Culture: Ten Steps to an Innovation Culture 8 Top Tips for Building an Innovative Culture in 2023 Paul Slater's Biography Paul is an accomplished facilitator and management consultant with a wealth of experience in helping companies innovate, change, and grow. His mission is to help businesses become more valuable, enjoyable, and future proof. Paul helps leaders develop growth cultures by focusing on clarity of purpose, vision, values, and aligning them with performance and operating models. His systems thinking approach spans multiple dimensions of growth and innovation, from strategy to process and technology. Paul is passionate about enabling people to develop themselves and their businesses in a sustainable and scalable way. Paul has worked with many household names including General Motors. He enjoys translating his big company experience into meaningful strategies for smaller businesses and start-ups/scale-ups. He spent the early part of his career at Accenture before joining Oakland Consulting, where he led their People and Change service line as a Partner. For the last 7 years, he has been MD at The Change Shed Ltd.
This episode focuses on harnessing AI, technology, and innovation in online learning. I'm joined by Taryn Haynes-Smart, Head of Product Development at the Digital Campus in Johannesburg, South Africa. Taryn is a creative innovator who loves to use AI, technology, and innovation to create fantastic learning experiences for people participating in online University programmes. We talk about online learning and some of the tools and approaches that Taryn takes uses. We also explore what the impact of technology such as AI means for the future of learning and development, and how we can work with it and incorporate it in a healthy way into what we do. Taryn and I would love to hear what you think. Do please let us know in the comments. Taryn Haynes-Smart Biography: As an innovator and creator, Taryn Haynes-Smart fuses intelligence and creativity to craft unique experiences that ignite the imagination. With a passion for exploring the world through digital tools, AI, and data, Taryn brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the table across multiple domains. With a background in learning and development, product management, and content creation, Taryn has a proven track record of success in a variety of fields. Whether creating innovative learning solutions, management product development from ideation to launch, or crafting engaging content that resonates with audiences, Taryn brings a unique perspective to every project she tackles. From sharing personal stories of creative inspiration, discussing best practices, or exploring the intersection of technology, knowledge, and creativity, Taryn's dynamic and visionary approach to problem-solving and solution design is sure to engage, educate, and inspire audiences. Links: Taryn on LinkedIn Taryn on Instagram Digital Campus AI video creation platform, Synthesia Contact options for Taryn Haynes-Smart: Connect via LinkedIn Contact via email #artificialintelligence #innovation #onlinelearning #digitalcourses #facilitation
In this podcast episode about knowledge exchange and innovation, I'm joined by my guest Amanda Selvaratnam, Associate Director of Research and Enterprise at the University of York in the UK. Key topics we cover are: What is Knowledge Exchange and why does it matter? Collaborative Learning: Strategies for Effective Knowledge Exchange From Theory to Practice: How to Implement Knowledge Exchange in Real Projects Building Strong Networks for Effective Knowledge Exchange Maximising the Impact of Knowledge Exchange: Tips and Techniques The Future of Knowledge Exchange: Trends and Innovation Amanda is an expert on commercialising innovation and getting research out there being used in the community for real by communities, businesses, and organizations so that it can make impact. She shares some great examples. We talk about how businesses and other organisations can connect with universities for knowledge exchange and innovation to access and optimize research opportunity. It really is a value-packed episode, thanks to Amanda's insight and the generosity of her sharing her experience. I'm sure you're going to enjoy it and get lots from it. Amanda and I would love to hear what you think. Do please let us know in the comments. More about Amanda Selvaratnam: Amanda Selvaratnam, Associate Director Research Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (Impact), University of York Following a scientific career in research and industry, Amanda moved into business intelligence with GlaxoSmithKline prior to joining the University of York in 1999. Amanda is responsible for the engagement of the University with business with a focus on impact through the development and delivery of professional development and executive education courses, technology transfer and regional economic development. Amanda is also the Founder and Director of the Training Gateway, an organisation that supports UK training and education organisations to win training and education contracts and develop partnerships overseas. Working extensively in the Gulf and South East Asia, Amanda has led over 30 trade missions and supported dozens of UK training and education organisations develop international business partnerships. The links we mention in the episode are: Amanda Selvaratnam on LinkedIn Business and working with the University of York: business@york.ac.uk Praxis Auril Knowledge Exchange organisation and conference University video knowledge Exchange StreetLife Video StreetLife Video 2 York City Video #enterprise #innovation #highereducation #commercialisation #knowledgeexchange
Problems are simply the gaps between where you want your business to be and where it currently is. And of course, helping customers with their problems is what we are all in business to do. In innovation terms, some business problems are “messy”, that is, they are connected to other problems. Or they might be “wicked” problems, meaning they're unclear and keep changing and evolving. Just a few examples are: Creating a new marketing campaign that works Bringing diverse stakeholders together to collaborate on a joint plan Formulating work-winning solutions for new business proposals, bids, or tenders Working on a more sustainable business model Social or community challenges and opportunities… So, wouldn't it be fantastic if you could tap directly into the collective wisdom, experience, and skills of the people in your organisation to access more useful, creative solutions to some of your messy or wicked problems? In this episode, I'll share evidence-based tools for creative problem solving for business. I'll also give you a step-by-step guide to facilitating problem-solving workshops that will generate fresh thinking, stronger collaboration, and more productive results.
Are you excited by your business goals for 2023? Have you got clear plans in place to achieve them, with contingencies mapped out in case other things get in the way? In this live episode I'll be sharing evidence-based insights, tools, and approaches on how to facilitate a goal achievement workshop for your business, or a mini “retreat” if you're working on your own. I hope you'll join me, either live or on replay, to de-risk your important business goals falling by the wayside as the year progresses! I'll help you to act smarter, build and maintain momentum over weeks and months, and identify strategies for likely obstacles before they happen. You'll get a full agenda and activities for a time-efficient team workshop or individual away day that will give you clarity and greater motivation for sustained action.
Are you thinking about working with your team to regroup, reset and refocus for a healthy, enjoyable, and high performing year ahead? In this episode, I share evidence-based insights, tools, and approaches for facilitating a High Performing Team Reset and Refocus Workshop. The definition of ‘High Performance' I use is about achieving sustainably and well, over the long term. Wellbeing, connection, purpose, values, individual and team strengths are integral to true success. I also share: Research, and practical ways you can use that research, to help your team to perform at an even higher level An example of a focused agenda for your High Performing Team Workshop, along with purposeful, engaging, interactive activities you can use – activities that apply directly to your business and lead to agreed actions and commitments Tips and techniques for opening up constructive, progressive conversations within the team
How well are your products and services performing? When was the last time that you sat down and did a strategic review of your portfolio? For some businesses, it's a regular, ongoing activity. They're always on top of what's working and spotting early signs that something needs to be tweaked or changed. In many cases, entrepreneurial leaders know what's going well and what isn't, based on intuition, but don't get thoughts out on paper often enough to help them think through their next moves and strategies to get clarity on future plans. If you'd like to take a snippet of time (30 minutes or so) to hit pause and reflect on your business' performance, join me for this show, either live or on replay. I'll be sharing how you can use some classic frameworks that are just as valuable today as when they were first created to take a snapshot of your business offer and gain clarity on your next moves. I bet that you are familiar with these frameworks – but are you actively using them to help your business grow? Work alongside me to use three classical innovation and business growth concepts – the Product Lifecycle, BCG Matrix and the Innovation-Adoption curve – for your new product development, business planning and strategic thinking. I'll also stop off to take a very quick look at the Gartner Hypecycle and their Technology Trend Summary for 2023, but don't worry if tech isn't your thing! The principles apply to so many other things, and it's great to have a quick look at what might be ahead. Mintel have published their Global Consumer Trends for 2023, too, so I'll give you a heads up on those.
One of the members of my Idea Time for Workshop Facilitators Facebook Group asked me for some ideas for creative facilitation activities to use when working with groups to establish their Mission, Vision and Values. So, in this show I'll share a toolkit that will help you to facilitate a super-successful Mission, Vision & Values Workshop for your team or client. You can use my tried-and-tested toolkit to lead your delegates through the steps to co-create their Mission, Vision and Values from scratch, or to refresh and update the ones already in place. As well as the toolkit, I'll share: An agenda to save you loads of planning time Activities that have been tried and tested in a wide range of organizations Fresh ideas and approaches to build into your wider toolkit Tips for leading a workshop that achieves a great delegate experience AND valuable outputs
Have you considered a growth hacking sprint for your business? It could help you and your team achieve a flying start to the year ahead, in just a couple of hours. Growth hacking is an approach that helps businesses to scale by combining powerful data, technical expertise and marketing flair to find and test promising new ways of driving growth. It's not about ‘hacking' in the sense of too-good-to-be true short cuts. Growth hacking means finding creative, low-cost strategies to help businesses acquire and retain customers, testing those strategies and learning fast. A growth hacking sprint is a short, focused event that gets all the right people in the physical or virtual room to collaborate on growth solutions for your business. Growth hacking sprints are designed to get the very best collective creativity and wisdom from everyone present in an efficient, dynamic, and creative way, in a short space of time. If you'd like to know more, listen in as I'm sharing... More about what growth hacking is, how it works and how to get started Example agendas for growth hacking sprints, and what to expect How to set up and deliver a growth hacking sprint for your business How to use your first growth hacking sprint to accelerate and maintain momentum throughout the year – by working smarter, avoiding burn out and building a more resilient business
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” - Einstein It's brilliant that so many businesses want to be part of the solution when it comes to combating climate change and protecting natural resources through improving day-to-day processes. And, as Einstein observed, new challenges call for new solutions. In addition to Government decarbonisation target dates looming ever closer, consumers and communities are demanding more transparency and products that are environmentally and socially responsible. Eco innovation is aimed at driving progress towards sustainable business models and green economic growth, through new technologies, services, products or processes. Eco innovation involves: Thinking about the full life cycles of products and services, to gain maximum use from materials and retain their value in the economy Making strategic changes to build sustainability into the DNA of every business process Collaborating with customers, suppliers and partners to drive sustainability across the full supply chain In this show, I'll be giving an overview of what eco innovation is and sharing some examples of eco innovation in business. #ecoinnovation #sustainableinnovation #sustainablility #innovation #entrepreneurship
You don't have to be a person of influence to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me. – Scott Adams In my day-to-day, I encounter so many great innovators who have what they think are brilliant ideas. However, some of them struggle to get these ideas across the line, because others don't see the opportunity the same way. What's obvious to an innovator may not be obvious to others. Influencing skills go hand-in-hand with entrepreneurship and innovation, to onboard team members, customers, suppliers, stakeholders or investors to make great ideas happen. I see influencing as a reciprocal process. It's not all one way. Listening and taking other people's good ideas on board often makes a promising idea even stronger. In this show, I'll provide a process and toolkit to support your influencing strategies for your innovation ambitions. Sharing my Innovation Influencing Mix, I'll cover: Prioritising stakeholders Innovation collaboration between organisations Making your case using fundamental influencing principles Building trust in business relationships The focus will be on external partners, organisations and stakeholders, but these approaches work internally, too.
I've always been fascinated by what makes some people innovative and enterprising – or intrapreneurial – at work, and why some people prefer to be more risk averse and focus on managing the day-to-day, rather than actively seeking to shape the future. Businesses need both, of course, to be successful. It was this sheer passion and joy for all things intrapreneurship, entrepreneurship and innovation-related that led me to study for 6 years part-time to achieve my doctorate in my late forties (whilst working full time too). In this show, I'm going to do a deep dive into intrapreneurship, including: What is intrapreneurship, how is it different or similar to entrepreneurship? Why and how all businesses benefit from intrapreneurship Characteristics of successful intrapreneurs – based on research, including my own How to develop intrapreneurial skills in yourself and others Intrapreneurial culture …and much more! Whilst always grounded in evidence and research, the insights I share will be packed with practical things that you can do to improve intrapreneurship where you work. #iintrapreneur #intrapreneurship #corporateentrepreneurship #innovation #businessgrowth
"Rowing harder doesn't help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction." — Kenichi Ohmae Setting meaningful, stretching but realistic goals is one of the keys to success in business innovation and growth. When individuals and teams collaborate to set goals, they create an environment where team members work towards a shared vision, collaborate and perform better overall. In this show, I discuss some of the science and evidence that inform effective goal setting for teams. I also share a proven goal setting workshop agenda and toolkit of activities that you can use to facilitate your own goal setting workshops. #goalsetting #facilitation #virtualfacilitation #innovation #businessgrowth
Are you looking ahead yet to 2022? Now's a good a time to start as any, and I've done a bit of the hard work for you. I've reviewed a range of the leading trends reports for 2022 and will be sharing my overview for innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders in this episode. Join me for a practical, evidence-based view of what's likely to be important for consumers and businesses as the world continues to change in these unusual times. You'll get some useful tips and suggestions for how to use the 2022 trend insights that I share for your own business. Plus, I'll point you to all the original 2022 research references in case there's a theme that you'd like to explore more deeply. #innovation #entrepreneurship #innovationleadership #intrapreneurship #2022trends
Do you want to put a ding in the universe? Steve Jobs did. And I think many of us want to, as well, in our own way. It doesn't have to be a huge ding. Lots of smaller dings add up. As ding-making team members, innovators and leaders, we can all develop our innovation mindset to massively multiply the positive impact that we create. We can learn to strengthen and maximise our unique, personal innovation thinking style by understanding it, and then by using approaches, tools and practice to help our minds work their magic in wise, brilliant and sometimes surprisingly cool ways. The more we take our innovation brains for a spin and give them a great workout, the better, smarter and faster they'll get at spotting interesting dots and connecting them to shape new opportunities. We can learn to get better at hanging in there when ding-creation gets tough (it invariably does) because we recognise that there can be no great breakthroughs without having something to break through first. Innovation mindset is at the origin of every successful – and unsuccessful – endeavour. The ideas you and your business have, and how well you execute them, are what separate you from your competition. At the root of your innovation is the quality of your individual and collective thinking. Mindset is a hugely important and, for me at least, endlessly fascinating aspect of innovation that is underexplored. In this episode, I cover: …What an innovation mindset is and why it's important …How to work out your own innovation thinking style preferences, and how they might affect the people you work with, and your own decision-making …Practical, scientifically-proven and often fun and enjoyable ways that you can power up your own innovation mindset, and help your team to do the same.
Collaborative innovation happens when different organisations, or teams from the same organization, work in partnership to create new products, services or solutions. It can be a brilliant approach to solving big, important challenges that need diverse inputs, pooled resources, and shared learning. Collaborative innovation also has its ups and downs, at times! The key to success lies in understanding the potential challenges and benefits, being prepared for them, and developing the discernment and skills to both lead and contribute well. In this episode, I'll cover: …What collaborative innovation is and how it works in practice at its best, with examples …When collaborative innovation might be useful for an organisation, and when not …The importance of selecting great partners for your collaboration, and some tips that might help …Common pitfalls and critical success factors …Collaborative innovation leadership skills, and how to develop them. This is a content-rich episode, packed with pragmatic insight based on years of first-hand experience! It would be great to hear your experiences of collaborative innovation, too. What works or doesn't work from your perspective? What questions do you have that you'd really like me to answer? As always, let's see what insights and ideas we can co-create in the moment. Looking forward to collaborating with you.
I believe innovation is all about coming up with great, new ideas and using them to make a positive difference in the world. Of course, innovation has always been with us. Everything we use or enjoy today is the result of an innovation from someone, somewhere. But it feels like we have never needed innovation as much as we need it now: emerging from the pandemic, tackling climate change, building a fairer, safer society and more. Businesses of all sizes collectively play a major role in driving innovation. They also need to innovate. And the most successful businesses are those that are purpose-driven. Research by Deloitte in 2020 shows that purpose-driven companies experience higher market share gains, grow on average x3 faster than their competitors, and achieve higher employee and customer satisfaction. Creating and implementing an intelligent, agile, dynamic and purpose-led innovation strategy makes a significant difference to business performance, resilience and sustainability. In this episode, I'll cover: …What an innovation strategy is, and how an innovation strategy can accelerate purpose-driven business growth …When an innovation strategy might be useful for an organisation, and when not …How to get started with creating an innovation strategy that's right for your business …Some common pitfalls and critical success factors It will be great to hear your experiences of shaping and implementing innovation strategy, and what works or doesn't work from your perspective. As always, let's see what insights and ideas we can co-create in the moment. Looking forward to collaborating with you. #innovation #cocreation #innovationleadership #intrapreneurship #facilitation
How do innovation sprints, also known as design sprints, actually work? If you've not experienced one before, an innovation or design sprint is a short, focused, purposeful event designed to achieve solutions to a specific challenge or opportunity. Together your delegates from inside and often outside your organisation will collaborate to collectively define what success looks like for your challenge or opportunity. They'll generate and develop ideas to achieve that success, and create early prototypes and action plans. Innovation sprints can be online, in-person or hybrid events. I love designing and running sprints and have been facilitating them for years. In the last few months alone, at the Big Bang we have facilitated sprints for our clients on themes such as: New product development Customer experience Digital technology solutions Business growth acceleration Employee engagement Long-term environmental strategy Climate change … and more. But to be successful – which means achieving the target outcomes at the same time as creating a positive experience for delegates – a fantastic sprint needs to be expertly designed and facilitated. In this episode, I'll cover: …How innovation sprints work, and what makes them successful …When an innovation sprint might be useful for an organisation, and when it's not …How to organise an innovation sprint for your business, avoiding some of the common pitfalls that can compromise success It would be great to hear your experiences of running or participating in innovation sprints and what works or doesn't work from your perspective. As always, let's see what insights and ideas we can co-create in the moment. Looking forward to collaborating with you. #innovation #cocreation #innovationleadership #intrapreneurship #facilitation
Wouldn't it be fantastic if … …everyone in business felt inspired, confident and unapologetic enough to think independently, create more and regurgitate less? …people trusted in themselves and listened to their own intuition? …they consulted others, took on board different perspectives, and then came to their own conclusions, thinking creatively AND critically? Never before have we had so much access to such a huge diversity of opinion, data, information, and so many opportunities to connect with and follow people from around the world. In some ways, we are in a wonderful golden age of shared thought and enlightenment because of all the online conversation and connections. But is all that volume creating a reduction in the impact for us as innovators and consumers of content? There's a lot of noise out there, a lot of copying, as well as a myriad of insights and wisdom. How might we find strategies to cut through the noise and find the gems that help us, as innovators, to create, communicate and consume for more meaningful outcomes? I'd love you to join me for this show where I'll be exploring the theme of thought-leadership and innovation. Let me know what you think. Contribute to the debate. Let's see what insights and ideas we can co-create in the moment. Looking forward to collaborating with you.
People behave differently in groups than when they are on their own or one-to-one. This episode is a deep-dive into group dynamics for workshop facilitators. I'll share some fascinating and useful insights into group dynamics that are invaluable for remote and in-person facilitation. Themes include: How our human need for social connection influences our behaviors in a group setting Insights into group psychology Creativity and the group norms How to structure your workshops, sprints and meetings to support collaboration, innovation and achieve results Group dynamics are a key element that we work with every single day as facilitators. I can't wait to see your comments and questions. As always, it's great to hear from you. You'll also enjoy my article here on how to facilitate group dynamics and creative tension: https://bigbangpartnership.co.uk/do-people-behave-differently-when-they-are-in-groups-insights-into-group-dynamics-for-facilitators/ For free facilitation and team building resources, go to https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/resources/ and fill your boots with lots of great stuff! To find out more about my virtual facilitation, have a look at https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/virtual-facilitation/ I'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you have. Please do let me know what you think in the comments.
Join me and my special guest, Andy Jenkins of MyLeadership Strengths, for this episode on strengths-focused innovation. Leading innovation in organisations brings great responsibility as well as opportunity. In Andy's decades of work developing leaders, he's seen a common response to that responsibility: leaders strive to be good at everything. Research, and his experience, show that the ‘perfect' leader does not exist. In fact, evidence shows great leaders: Have a strong understanding of their own unique strengths and capitalise on them Address their most important individual weaknesses Understand and tap into the strengths of others In my conversation with Andy, we explore: How strengths-based leadership is an essential ingredient for high-performing innovation teams, and successful innovation outcomes How you can identify your own innovation leadership strengths, and how to put them into action to get the best results Ways in which you can spot and leverage the strengths of the people around you to harness the collective capability of your full team Tips and techniques for strengths-focused facilitation To get in touch with Andy: hello@myleadershipstrengths.com Links to Andy's information and resources: https://myleadershipstrengths.com/resources/ About Andy: Andy is Co-Founder of My Leadership Strengths, who enable busy managers to prioritise their own development and make learning happen at work. Combining business design with organisational psychology expertise, Andy has built leadership capability in SME's, not for profit, public and private sectors in the UK and Australia. He is at his best working with individuals and organisations setting up for growth, navigating unfamiliar organisational challenges, and public sector transformation. Andy is a Chartered Member of the CIPD, a qualified strengths practitioner and coach. People who have worked with Andy describe him as curious, insightful, practical, intelligent, fun and open For free innovation leadership resources, go to https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/resources/ and fill your boots with lots of great stuff! To find out more about my virtual facilitation, have a look at https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/virtual-facilitation/
Psychological safety is the key ingredient of high performing teams. It is defined as "a belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes” (Professor Amy Edmondson, Harvard Business School). This episode is a great guide to psychological safety for innovators, facilitators and change makers. I share: A definition of and deep-dive into psychological safety, plus why it is important for team working, specifically including innovation, business growth, design sprints and learning environments. Spotting the signs of psychological danger and psychological safety in teams. How to nurture a climate of psychological safety in remote, hybrid and co-located teams and in virtual and in-person workshops and innovation sprints. For free facilitation and team building resources, go to https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/resources/ and fill your boots with lots of great stuff! To find out more about my virtual facilitation, have a look at https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/virtual-facilitation/ To explore more content on how to get ideas flowing in online meetings, you might enjoy this article, too https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/how-to-get-ideas-flowing-in-online-meetings/ I'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you have. Please do let me know what you think in the comments.
In this episode, I share all the essential information you need to know to do a brilliant job of facilitating a business strategy workshop, either for the company you work for or for your clients. The tools, tips and techniques I share can be flexed for virtual / online, in-person and hybrid or blended meetings. I'll help you to think through: The purpose and objectives of the session Planning, preparation and delegate pre-work On-the-day facilitation I'll go through a suggested strategy workshop agenda, and detail each of the activities I recommend that you consider for your delegates. For free facilitation and team building resources, go to https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/resources/ and fill your boots with lots of great stuff! To find out more about my virtual facilitation, have a look at https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/virtual-facilitation/ To explore more content on how to get ideas flowing in online meetings, you might enjoy this article, too https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/how-to-get-ideas-flowing-in-online-meetings/ I'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you have. Please do let me know what you think in the comments.
Hybrid working, which is sometimes called “blended working”, is a form of flexible working that allows employees to split their time between attending the workplace and working remotely (usually from home). In the current climate, more and more teams are considering or doing hybrid working. This week's episode is a guide to hybrid working – the upsides, potential downsides and how to make it work for you and your team. When some team members work remotely for some of their working week or carry out other forms of flexible working, performance can be harder to observe and collaboration more challenging to achieve. Effective team leadership of hybrid-working colleagues therefore requires a different approach, although many of the fundamentals of good performance management (objectives, feedback and timely conversations) remain the same. The tips I share can support you in managing hybrid teams effectively. For free facilitation and team building resources, go to https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/resources/ and fill your boots with lots of great stuff! To find out more about my virtual facilitation, have a look at https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/virtual-facilitation/ To explore more content on how to get ideas flowing in online meetings, you might enjoy this article, too https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/how-to-get-ideas-flowing-in-online-meetings/ I'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you have. Please do let me know what you think in the comments.
In this week's episode, I share some of my facilitation techniques, skills and tips to help you take your facilitation skills to the next level. Facilitating a workshop or meeting can be challenging at times, and that's why I'm here to share my experience of facilitating thousands of people in different sectors in countries all over the world. For more free innovation and facilitation resources, go to https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/resources/ and fill your boots with lots of great stuff! To find out more about my virtual facilitation, have a look at https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/virtual-facilitation/ To explore more content on how to get ideas flowing in online meetings, you might enjoy this article, too https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/how-to-get-ideas-flowing-in-online-meetings/ I'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you have. Please do let me know what you think in the comments.
You've got a great business idea… How do you know if it stacks up financially? What about the other, non-financial risks and benefits? How do you decide if it's a go-er or not, and how do you influence the people you need to support you and maybe even invest in your innovation? These are the questions that I'll help you to answer in this week's show. I'll walk through how to create a realistic, credible business case for your innovation that not only gives you confidence in your decision-making but also helps you to engage and influence your key stakeholders. For more free innovation and facilitation resources, go to https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/resources/ and fill your boots with lots of great stuff! To find out more about my virtual facilitation, have a look at https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/virtual-facilitation/ To explore more content on how to get ideas flowing in online meetings, you might enjoy this article, too https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/how-to-get-ideas-flowing-in-online-meetings/ I'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you have. Please do let me know what you think in the comments.
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