Jeremy Gutsche's business innovation speech provides unique leadership advice. His leadership strategies focus on team-building as opposed to the skills of the individual leader. The the innovation keynote speaker suggests that leaders set the tone of a group and have the power to squelch creativity. Leaders need to create an environment in which employees are confident to try new things and voice their opinions.
Jeremy shares a story from his time at the Stanford Institute of Design to further illustrate his point:
"At the Stanford Institute of Design (d.school), we were brainstorming to come up with ways to improve a female fashion store. The most influential person in the group was the COO of a major company and a credited inventor.
A typical rule in brainstorming is that junior participants kick off the discussion. This prevents ideas from being creatively hindered. Yet in this case, the most senior person made the first suggestion. His idea for young females: "Free nachos when they enter the store!"
What?! Free nachos?
It sounded like a crazy idea, but around the room, people got the point: If he says that, I can say anything. Not only did he spark creativity, but he also encouraged free thought. In fact, his wild suggestions even inspired realistic ideas from others: 'Free Nachos to welcome people? Okay, how about a customized welcome experience....a tailored entrance to the store.'"
The role of the leader is not to suggest great ideas, but rather to create an atmosphere that fosters the ideas of others. For more leadership advice, check out the FREE copy of 'Exploiting Chaos' here.
Act Crazy
Jeremy Gutsche's Business Innovation Speech Discusses Senior Executive Leadership
Trend Themes
1. Team-building Leadership - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop leadership strategies that focus on building strong teams and empowering employees to voice their opinions and try new things.
2. Creative Brainstorming - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Encourage a culture of free thought and unconventional ideas during brainstorming sessions to spark creativity and inspire realistic solutions.
3. Empowering Others - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Shift the focus of leadership from suggesting great ideas to creating an atmosphere that fosters and supports the ideas of others.
Industry Implications
1. Human Resources - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new approaches in HR to promote team-building, employee empowerment, and a culture of creativity and innovation.
2. Design Thinking - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Apply design thinking principles to brainstorming sessions and leadership development to foster unconventional ideas and inspire innovative solutions.
3. Organizational Leadership - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Rethink traditional leadership models and focus on creating environments that empower employees and encourage free thought and idea sharing.