Thursday, March 12, 2009

Art of Innovation
5. A Cool Company Needs Hot Groups

Chapter Takeaways:
  • A hot team is not an accident.
  • A passionate team is made from passionate individuals.
  • Balance of challenge and time pressure is key to innovation.
  • Fun + shared goals + trust = good ideas.

Great innovation happens from teams, not from lone geniuses. To make such a hot group, consider:
  1. Shared goals and dedication.
  2. Aggressive deadlines. (*right amount of challenge is key to success*)
  3. Non-Hierarchical structure.
  4. Respect through diversity of skills and backgrounds.
  5. Open, eclectic space.
  6. Empowered to go and get whatever they needed.
Hot studios...
  • ... are small and self-chosen.
  • ... are full of passion.
  • ... go for crazy deadlines and seemingly unreachable goals (*again, i think balance is key!*)
  • ... find opportunities in obstacles.
  • ... thrive in close quarters.
  • ... allow for teams to co-locate as needed.
  • ... have no "they".
  • ... cultivate trust.
  • ... give unique gifts to reinforce team spirit.
  • ... share ideas and accomplishments regularly.
  • ... boost morale through celebration and field trips.
  • ... meet and eat.
  • ... look through the part through custom kit.
  • ... need characters...
8 Crazy Characters for Hot Groups
  • Visionary
  • Troubleshooter: doesn't suffer fools gladly and cuts to the chase.
  • Iconoclast
  • Pulse Taker: unlocking the insights of exceptional and ordinary people
  • Craftsmen
  • Technologist
  • Entrepreneur
  • Cross-Dresser: formally educated in 1 area, working in another
"end one project by beginning another. That way, when you do take a break, you already have an opening, a beginning to from, rather than starting from scratch".

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