Almost every organization has legacy thinkers and we have to deal with them to get things done. They’re often the people in senior leadership and have years of experience under their belts but they can be frustrating to work with because of their resistance to innovation and new ideas. They’ve got the been-there-done-that mentality to the point of holding the rest of us back, or they tend to have an ‘I know better and I’ve seen more than you’ attitude that shuts down ideas. There are also legacy thinkers who love to relive their glory days and successes of years past, which keeps them from opening up to new ideas today.   The thing with legacy thinkers is that we need them — they have experience, they sit in leadership roles — for whatever reason, we need to find ways to get them on board with change and onboard with the innovation that we’re trying to put forward. So how can we do this?   I have four strategies that can break down these barriers legacy thinkers have against change and innovation, and to get them behind these ideas to move the organization forward. 1. Have empathy 2. Honor past work 3. Connect the dots 4. Guided questions These simple yet effective strategies are the key to changing the mindset of legacy thinkers and tapping into their expertise and experience to innovate.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Ignite, Scale, and Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour (Pre-Order) IQE Assessment “Burst of Innovation — How to Get Legacy Thinkers On Board With Change”

Inside LaunchStreet

1891: Strategies to get Legacy Thinkers Behind Innovation

How much do you trust your own ability to think creatively and figure things out, without depending on the advice or opinions of an expert? Carol Sanford believes that for most of us, it’s not enough. Carol Sanford describes herself as a lifelong learner and an educator who helps people develop themselves into more conscious, creative, innovative, and intentional human beings. Author of multiple books, and host of multiple podcasts including Business Second Opinion, Carol has over four decades of experience in helping companies challenge accepted best practices. Her recently released book The Regenerative Life — Transform Any Organization, Our Society and Your Destiny explores the nine regenerative roles that people adopt in different situations.   What is wrong with our society's current idea of who can change the world, and why don’t we have the consciousness, capacity, and courage to check in with ourselves? Carol explains how the “expert model” has led to us undervaluing ourselves and our ability to think, create, and use our own minds to figure things out. She also shares the dangers of putting people into boxes and labeling them, as well as the importance of reflection in growing and innovating. She has some fascinating insight about discovering your essence, the nine regenerative roles, and how to tap into them in different situations.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Ignite, Scale, and Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour (Pre-Order) Carol Sanford Carol Sanford Institute SEED Communities Second Opinion on Business Practice Podcast Email Carol Sanford The Regenerative Life: Transform Any Organization, Our Society, and Your Destiny, by Carol Sanford John Watson, Founder of Behavioral Psychology Enneagram Here & Now, NPR

1890: Living a Regenerative Life with Carol Sanford

Everybody wants innovation and change, but most people don’t break from the path that they’re on. Why is getting stuck in our own path such a challenge when it comes to innovating and how can we get out of it? Jeremy Gutsche joins me on this episode to share some of his insights about developing disruptive thinking, both individually and at the organizational level.   Jeremy Gutsche is the founder of TrendHunter, a global crowdsourcing platform that helps you spot and understand trends. He is also a New York Times bestselling author and has just released his latest book, Create the Future: Tactics for Disruptive Thinking. Jeremy’s forward-thinking mind and ability to connect the dots in insightful ways is unique and he helps shed new light on the challenge of innovation.   What do horse butts have to do with rocket ships? Jeremy reveals how dependent we are on our past decisions, why that translates into people getting caught in their own path instead of finding the other paths of opportunity, and how looking at the problem from a different perspective can help you break out of that rut. We also dive into managing innovation like a stock portfolio, why disruptive ideas move slowly until the knockout punch, and how we can change our environment to produce better, more innovative ideas.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Ignite, Scale, and Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour (Pre-Order) Jeremy Gutsche TrendHunter Create The Future, by Jeremy Gutsche Everyday Innovator Style Assessment Making the Elephant Dance: The Tata Way to Innovate, Transform and Globalize, by Sunil Mithas Tony Hunter  

1889: Developing Disruptive Thinking with Jeremy Gutsche

Have you ever looked at a product or seen an ad and wondered how someone thought to come up with that idea? Whether it’s good or bad, these are the ideas that are innovative and groundbreaking and they stick with us. One of those such products is RightRice, and its founder, Keith Belling joins me on this interview to share more about how he took on a big and traditional industry in a new and innovative way.   Keith Belling is the Founder & CEO of RightRice, a product that reinvents the concept of rice, and which sold over one million bags in its first year. Keith is a proven entrepreneur and innovator, and RightRice is his second foray into disrupting the F&B industry — his first being Popchips, a wildly successful food product. He is a master of following a frustration he has, figuring out how to solve it in a unique and meaningful way, and turning the solution into a business.   Opportunities in the marketplace are abundant, but we need to know where to look and how to approach these opportunities. Keith explains how to approach a really established, traditional marketplace with alternative products, and why it’s so important to bring to market something that’s meaningful and differentiated. We also discuss what it takes to cast off the baggage of past failures in the industry when trying to innovate, and what the future holds for RightRice in terms of competition.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Ignite, Scale, and Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour (Pre-Order) Keith Belling Right Rice.com Instagram Popchips Turner Duckworth IDEO Whole Foods

1888: Disrupting a Traditional Industry with Keith Belling

In this episode, we showcase Everyday Innovator Kyle Murray, Vice Dean and Professor of Marketing at the Alberta School of Business. He studies human judgment and decision-making, and tools like experimental psychology and behavioral economics to better understand the choices we make.   Kyle sheds light on why sometimes innovative ideas can be too far ahead of their time and people aren’t ready for them, as well as how these ideas get put out without the realization that they might be too outlandish for people to accept. We dive into the role of failures in the bigger process of gearing up for success, and the impact that failures can have on individuals within the company pushing for these innovative ideas vs. the company in the long term.   We really explore some case studies of innovation that failed and the lessons that can be learned from them, as well as the red flags to look out for in innovation. Sometimes, releasing a product that is not quite right is enough to sound a death knell for it, but we also need a balance between releasing a minimum viable product and settling for good enough. Ultimately, Kyle highlights why it is so important to cultivate a relationship with your customers, and how that allows room for failure and innovation.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Ignite, Scale, and Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour (Pre-Order) Email Laura: laura@gotolaunchstreet.com Kyle Murray Alberta School of Business Inside Launchstreet Podcast Episode 1803: “Innovation Lessons from the epic Crystal Pepsi Failure with Kyle Murray”

1887: Everyday Innovator Spotlight — Innovation And Failure with Kyle Murray

Change can be hard, and it’s not always because we don’t want to change or because we fear it. Our habits and patterns can become so ingrained in us that it’s hard to change. The thing is, when we learn how to embrace it and adopt the right mindset around it, it can be so powerful and move our businesses forward with momentum. Joe Jackman has some great insights to share on the topic. Joe Jackman is the CEO of Jackman Reinvents, the world’s first and foremost reinvention company, and has recently authored The Reinventionist Mindset: Learning to Love Change, and the Human How of Doing It Brilliantly. As an advisor to consumer brands, retailers, B2B companies, and private equity partners for over 30 years, Joe has helped leaders sharpen their strategy and orchestrate insight-led reinventions of their businesses. Momentum and motion are fundamental to transformation, a principle that applies even in business. Joe and I dive into the reinventionist mindset — what it is and why it is so important, as well as the five principles that form its foundation: Seek Insight Everywhere, Embrace Uncertainty, Create the Future Now, Obsess the Outcome, Make Momentum Together. Joe shares more about momentum, why strategy is about knowing where you’re going and how to get there, and how to avoid insularity in thinking. Remember — there’s nothing more powerful than a community of like-minded people that believe in the same thing and are moving in the same direction.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Joe Jackman Joe Jackman on LinkedIn and Instagram Jackman Reinvents The Reinventionist Mindset: Learning to Love Change, and the Human How of Doing It Brilliantly, by Joe Jackman  

1886: The Human How of Embracing Change with Joe Jackman

This episode’s question comes from Janet, who is wondering why diversity of thought is important on her team. Beyond that, if you already have a diverse team, how can you be sure you are actually getting all of their diverse perspectives? Diversity of thinking in our team is the bedrock of innovation. Putting people of different cognitive styles, perspectives, and experiences together helps create an environment where innovation naturally thrives. In fact, innovation is more likely to be implemented when created by a group with diverse mindsets. However, where we as leaders often stumble is tapping into the diversity of thinking that already exists in your team. The problem usually lies in three areas: 1) People work in silos 2) There is a lack of awareness of how to leverage people beyond their job titles 3) We approach the same people to discuss new ideas   I have some strategies that will help us move past these challenges and start maximizing the full potential of your team at the individual, team, and application levels. Remember, it’s not enough to share why diversity is important — we also need to give our teams the tools to take action to tap into it.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Send Tamara Your Questions Innovation is Everybody's Business: How to Ignite, Scale, and Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour (Pre-order) Everyday Innovator Style Assessment

1885: Q&A — Tapping into Diversity of Thinking in Your Team

Strategy is great to talk about hypothetically, but we’re taking it a step further to dig into how good (or bad) strategy plays out in real-world case studies. Derrick Kuhn, serial entrepreneur and owner of Brillity Digital, a digital marketing and business strategy company, joins me on the second of this two-part series to continue our deep dive on strategy.   When it comes to strategy, the fundamental starting point lies in the diagnosis of the current situation, something that is often missed out in the conversation. Derrick and I explore how we can start rethinking goal-setting using the concept of proximate objectives, and why “strategy” should move from diagnosis to strategy to tactics and an action plan.   We deconstruct each of our business strategies and uncover some of the crucial flaws I had in my thinking around strategy, and some of the myths and outdated ways of doing things I was holding on to. Derrick and I come up with a better way of doing my strategy that has already made a difference, and discuss the roles of different people in bringing together diverse perspectives that can ultimately make a significant difference in your company’s success to implement your strategy.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Derrick Kuhn on LinkedIn Brillity Digital Good Strategy, Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why it Matters, by Richard P. Rumelt Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More Of What You Want From Your Business, by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters Inside LaunchStreet Podcast Episode: Myths Around Strategy (Part 1 of 2) The One Thing, by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan Innovation Quotient Edge (IQE) Assessment E-Myth, by Michael Gerber  

1884: Myths Around Strategy (Part 2 of 2)

Strategy — it’s one of those big words that gets thrown around a lot, but everyone has a different idea of what it means. Even more importantly, strategy is something that a lot of us get wrong. Personally and professionally, we often set goals and objectives — a strategy is what helps us get there. The challenge most of us face is that we are approaching strategy in a way that takes us further from our goals and objectives. So where do we begin creating a strategy?   Derrick Kuhn, serial entrepreneur and owner of Brillity Digital, a digital marketing and business strategy company, joins me on the first of this two-part series to do a deep dive into strategy. We deconstruct what makes strategy good or bad, and the types of people you need at the head of a strategy to implement it. The thing is, strategy is not about achieving a broad objective. It’s about painting a path forward that has methodology and an action plan that can be identified and prioritized to get to the objective.   Missed growth and lost opportunities are the results of bad strategy. Derrick and I explore why it’s so important to take into consideration the dynamics of the marketplace when creating a strategy, and why a strategy that has worked in the past may not be suitable to move forward. Ultimately, we need to diagnose before building strategy; how do we figure out what the right things are to be thinking about? Derrick shares some insight on that, as well as some of the fundamental issues in the business that could optimize and/or hinder its ability to get to the next level.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Derrick Kuhn on LinkedIn Brillity Digital Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why it Matters, by Richard P. Rumelt Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More Of What You Want From Your Business, by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters Inside LaunchStreet Podcast Episode: “The Primal Mind with Derrick Kuhn (Part 1 of 2)” Inside LaunchStreet Podcast Episode: “The Primal Mind with Derrick Kuhn (Part 2)” Audible Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Ignite, Scale, and Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour EOS

1883: Myths Around Strategy (Part 1 of 2)

We’re adding in a new format to the podcast to highlight Everyday Innovators like you who are doing phenomenal things in terms of real-world innovation! Innovation is not just something that is reserved for the select, amazing few — it’s about thinking differently about what’s in front of you to create an advantage, and we want to showcase the companies and people who are pushing the envelope in their jobs, industries, and markets.   In this episode, we have Sean Richard, Innovation Leader at Schneider Electric, to share with us how his organization has really embraced the idea that innovation is everybody’s business inside the company. At Schneider, innovation can come from the most unlikely of places, from the most unexpected teams. That’s because the culture of innovation is built into the DNA of the company, and is encouraged at all levels, across all teams. It’s how they operate, it’s how they look to the future to stay competitive, and it’s how they surprise and delight their clients, over and over again.   Richard shares some examples of innovative ideas that have come forth from unlikely places, and how other members of the team have responded to this. He also explains why at Schneider, winning business is not about lowering prices – it’s about adding value, and how that drives innovation. We also dig into Schneider’s innovation playbook and portal that serve to promote innovation, why a culture of innovation is so important, and how Sean has pushed for a more human-centered approach at Schneider.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: IQE Assessment Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Ignite, Scale, and Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour (Pre-Order) Sean Richard on LinkedIn Schneider Electric

1882: Everyday Innovator Spotlight — How to Drive Company-wide Innovation

Leadership is not just about process and culture, it’s also about you as a leader — how you can achieve your goals and be stronger as a leader for the teams you lead. That’s why Christine Matzen believes that becoming a leader is a journey and leadership is a force you can use to help your business win.   Christine Matzen started her career in emergency medical services. In this fast-paced, high-stress environment, she developed strong instincts and cultivated critical leadership skills, as well as a deep respect for people. Today, Christine works with individuals to develop their own leadership style, focusing on honing a strategic mindset that complements their unique skill sets. She helps individuals to become confident leaders who are ready to face any challenge, all the while prioritizing personal fulfillment in their lives.   We often think of leadership as tied to a position or a title, but leadership skills are cultivated, learned, and honed over time. Christine shares her insights about how to figure out what skills you are good at and what you need to work on as a leader to become better and the most common misconceptions around what makes a good leader. We also dig into the importance of trust, how to create a “vision of consequence” to help us stay the course to our objectives, and what stops leaders from innovating. She also has some really unique perspectives on defining your own vision and priorities, to avoid letting the world take away your time and your objectives.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Christine Matzen, Oak Street Strategies Christine Matzen on LinkedIn Leader: The Journey to Become the Force Your Business Needs to Win, by Christine Matzen Dr. JJ Virgin

1881: Get More Out of Your Leadership Role with Christine Matzen

There’s no denying the shrinking gap between humanity and technology. What used to take us hours or days to do, can now be done by technology in a much shorter time. Change and digital disruption have become pervasive as technology and artificial intelligence (AI) advances in leaps and bounds, and it’s happening at all levels across all industries. At this juncture, the question we need to ask ourselves is how can we leverage technology to elevate ourselves and stay relevant?   The trick is we need to become a part of the insight workforce, and it’s possible for everyone to be a part of it. All we need to do is leverage the information and data provided by technology to provide insights, solutions, and innovative ideas. We have to tap into our most human capabilities — how innovative we are, and the flexibility and nimbleness of our minds that allows us to come up with creative solutions.   I have three ways to become a part of the insight workforce and be an innovative voice in your workplace, life, and community.   #1 — Never present the facts; always present the insights.   #2 — Be innovative. Start thinking differently about what’s right in front of you to create an advantage.   #3 — Be an innovative leader.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Send Tamara Your Questions IQE Assessment Inside LaunchStreet Podcast Episode 1879: “Q&A — Staying Relevant in the Age of Technology with Tamara Ghandour” “Jobs Lost, Jobs Gained: Workforce Transitions in a Time of Automation,” Report by McKinsey Global Institute

1880: Becoming Part of the Insight Workforce

This episode’s question comes from Matthew, whose company recently implemented new software that will generate data and reports (previously one of his responsibilities). How can you ensure that you stay relevant when technology is now doing what you used to be valued for?   There’s no denying that technology is becoming more ubiquitous, and some of our tasks are being taken over by technology, software, or applications, regardless of the industry we’re in or our rank in our company. We may start wondering where our relevancy is, but really, we need to be thinking about how we can leverage technology to gain the advantage.   What we need to do is shift our mindsets. If you move from thinking about how technology is taking your job, to thinking about how technology frees you up and provides opportunities, that’s how you can create relevancy. Technology creates an incredible amount of opportunity for us to engage in strategic thinking, be innovative, and have a strong voice at the table. I have a set of questions you can ask yourself to get from information to insights so that you can provide solutions, opinions, and advice. Ultimately, in the age of technology, our value lies in the innovation and creativity we bring to the table.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Send Tamara Your Questions

1879: Q&A — Staying Relevant in the Age of Technology

This episode’s question comes from Morgan, who is facing a few work challenges she can’t seem to overcome. If you’re feeling like your brain is on a hamster wheel trying the same things over and over again, how do you get unstuck?   A lot of us have experienced this at some point. We’re approaching a problem and for some reason, we end up banging our head against the same brick wall, and can’t find a way around/over/under/to remove it. I have three super simple tools and exercises that you can use to get unstuck.   #1 — The questions you ask determine the answers you receive, so you have to start asking new questions. I share two strategies to start asking different questions: Word Game and Flip It.   #2 — Overcome your unconscious bias. Your primal mind is working against you because it’s trying to stay in alignment and avoid “new and different.” I have two strategies that you can use to trick your brain into letting in new ideas and different patterns of thought to see fresh perspectives.   #3 — Idea storm or mind map from the solutions you create. Use your solution as a springboard and starting point for new ideas.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Send Tamara Your Questions IQE Pro Innovation Toolkit Inside LaunchStreet Podcast Episode 1872: “The Primal Mind (Part 1 of 2)” Inside LaunchStreet Podcast Episode 1875: “The Primal Mind (Part 2 of 2)”

1878: Q&A — How to Get Unstuck

Today’s marketplace is an ever-changing and rapidly evolving landscape. If you’re not paying attention to what’s actually happening in your marketplace, it’s easy to fall behind, even if you’ve reached the pinnacle of success — and this often happens to many companies. Not to Jeff Platt though, who has had continued success and impressive results with SkyZone.   Jeff Platt is the President of SkyZone, an international franchise chain of indoor trampoline parks. With operations across the world in places as diverse as Mexico, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, SkyZone continues to see great success in the active entertainment industry.   As consumers demand more and more extreme experiences, what has SkyZone done to ensure that they are still relevant in their industry? Jeff explains his strategies to stay relevant to their customers by looking for inspiration in unlikely places, and the importance of staying connected to franchise owners and teams on the ground. We discuss SkyZone’s global strategy for growth, including being flexible enough to adapt to different cultures, the challenges (both from a business growth perspective and a leadership perspective) Jeff has faced as the company has grown, and how he has tackled them. Jeff’s advice? Keeping your finger on the pulse of your customers and your company.   If you are ready to: get buy-in from key decision makers on your next big idea be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities… Join us on LaunchStreet — gotolaunchstreet.com   Mentioned in This Episode: Innovation Training for Individuals Jeff Platt on LinkedIn SkyZone Inside LaunchStreet Podcast Episode 1743: “How To Grow Your Business Into A Global Powerhouse with Jeff Platt” Nerf Oculus Rift Focus@Will DoGood American Cancer Society Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

1877: Staying Relevant in Changing Times with Jeff Platt

Inside LaunchStreet is the leading business innovation podcast. Tamara interviews top innovation leaders and everyday innovators out there shaking things up so that you can tap the power of your greatest personal advantage - your innovative mind. Join thousands of other innovators who have sharpened their edge by listening to this incredible innovation podcast.

hubhopper

Inside LaunchStreet

hubhopper