In a hurry to Innovate? Slow down.

There's an interesting article in DesignMind this month on titled Slow Innovation. IN it the author challenges businesses who are in a hurry to innovate - to slow down. Why? Quite often there are a number of hurdles that need to be overcome, both technical and cultural:

Certainly, time scales are different for different industries, and there may be evidence of innovation happening in faster time cycles because of rapidly improved technologies. But innovation isn’t only about new technology. In fact, it’s mainly about culture. Humans are by nature habitual animals, and it takes a lot to move us off of our habits. Technology may be advancing quickly, but that doesn’t mean humans have the interest or the aptitude to adopt it right away.

Is your business feeling threatened in the current climate? Does it need to innovate? Now is the time to start looking around you, to see where the next disruption is going to emerge. One thing is for sure however, it rarely comes for the current market leaders. You need to look further afield. So if you are working in software development for businesses, it make help to look at what is happening in other areas unrelated to your field - maybe look what is happening in childcare, game theory, or mass transit.

If you don't have one eye on the task at hand, and another on the world around you, chances are you will be at the receiving end of the next disruption, rather than spearheading it.

Upcoming Workshops - Beyond Coaching

I'm scheduling a series of Beyond Coaching workshops around Ireland this February & March:

• Belfast - February 25th, 2009 - Blick Studios, Malone Road



• Dublin - March 2nd 2009 - TBC



• Galway - March 9th 2009 - TBC



• Clonmel - March 19th 2009- TBC

For more information, download the flyer or visit http://www.thecreativityhub.com/events/

Creative Tools To Empower You & Your Clients

Are you in a coaching/mentoring role where you are meant to help people who are stuck? Do you find they are sometimes reluctant to talk about an issue? They want your help, but can’t put it into words?

Have you noticed that while you are busy helping others, your own stuff lies ignored in the background? You wish you had someone to help you sort out a challenge, but think - “I should be able to do it myself”?

Do you find initial sessions with new people awkward?

Do you want to bring more play and laughter into your sessions, to help your clients relax and open up?

Learn how you can create a non-threatening atmosphere, and quickly break the ice with people of all ages and background.

Workshop Overview

This one-day workshop is presented by Rory O’Connor inventor of Rory’s Story Cubes™ and the Inner Vision Deck™. In this one day workshop you will gain the experience you need to confidently use these simple, playful yet powerful tools. You will be able to reach a level of insight and trust with your clients, not normally experienced through ordinary dialogue.

By learning how to use these two creative tools in your sessions you will empower your clients to help themselves more effectively. By teaching your own clients how to use Rory’s Story Cubes and the Inner Vision Deck, you will discover that your clients will be more willing to do ‘homework’, knowing that they have the tools to help themselves.

As a result of the workshop and using these tools, you will find that...

• Your sessions become easier on you, as your client does more of the work



• Your clients will have more buy-in to the solutions they discover for themselves



• Your listening skills will improve, as you no longer have to listen & solve at the same time



• Your level of self-awareness will increase with each use of the tools



• Your client relationships will move to a deeper level as your clients become more willing to reveal themselves

Target Audience

This workshop is geared towards therapists, counsellors, psychologists, personal Ddevelopment trainers, teachers, mentors & coaches. It is for anyone whose role is to help others solve problems, remove blocks and find solutions through greater self-awareness.

What People Are Saying

“It is excellent to attend a training course where you can apply the material so directly and quickly and also evolve it yourself overtime.” - Louise Doyle, Life Coach

“I very much liked the way you demonstrated the process, step by step, and then had participants experience it.” - Gobnait O’Grady, Life Coach

“Rorys Story Cubes are a powerfull way of unlocking hidden potential in people...or to help unblock what was previously blocked.” - Steve Dargan, Life Coach

“The tools are a very solid awareness tool and a great addition to my coaching toolkit!” - Laure Fau, Life Coach

“The tools are easy to use, effective and fun. I have already put the them into practice - using the Inner Vision Deck with a client this evening, and for myself with the Story Cubes which has sparked a new idea/approach!” - Mary Ann Byrne, Life Coach

What Next for Handwriting?

Every now and again I ask myself - is it important that we still teach children how to write? It is a conversation my partner and I regularly have. It appears that the ability to write is required less and less in the technology-driven world. Could our children's time be better spent learning to touch-type, or learning a second and third language?

I think the "death of handwriting" is a great example of evolutionary change in action. You have those in the one camp, who maybe have a vested interest in it, saying it's vital. In the other camp, are others suggesting we let it go the way of the Dodo, and make way for txting and typing.

But if we let it go, will we regret it later? Or is it simple time to step aside and allow for whatever is next to emerge?

I honestly don't have the answers, but do use handwriting regularly in my sessions with clients, and for capturing ideas. Though I am not adamant about the need to keep it. This article in the Boston Globe presents a number of interest perspectives.

Is the writing on the wall for penmanship? - The Boston Globe

While typing this, I googled for an image and found this post on National Handwriting Day. It appears that National Handwriting Day is sponsored by Writing Instruments Manufacturers Association (WIMA), the national trade association that represents the $3 billion industry of pen, pencil, and marker makers!

I had to laugh. Of course, it is these manufacturers who would not want to see handwriting stop. What would happen to their business?

Here's a thought. In what ways might these manufacturers innovate their business IF handwriting were to die out? Could it become a craft like so many other skills that were required before technology - like knitting, quilting, calligraphy or sewing?

Posted using ShareThis and found via PSFK.com

The Reluctant Idea

These images were kicking around my head over the holidays, so I thought I'd finally take them from my whiteboard, and share them with the wider world.

Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!

Inside the Tinkerer's Mind

I love this short film about the work of kinetic sculpture artist Ted Johnson. In particular it emphasises for me the importance of tinkering for the sheer pleasure of it. As a result, Ted is able to provide people with art at a reasonable price.

In this climate, we need more tinkerers in business and in the community - people willing to experiment and fail. Only by taking exploring new options will we be able to reach beyond what is currently not working to the next level.



Granite Copper Motor from Patrick Johnson on Vimeo.