Wednesday, May 7, 2008

You'll Need a Whole new Mind to Survive: The Backbone of the Innovative Company - People

In case you ever wonder how you can help your company be more profitable, or innovative . . .

In case you fear that you may not have a long term competitive advantage in your industry . . .

In case you wonder if you'll ever really fit in to today's workforce . . .

Here is a groundbreaking book which well describes the powerful, changing forces at work in our world, changes that, when fully accepted and embraced, will increase business profitability exponentially. The Book is titled, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink.

Pink writes in his introduction:

"The last few decades have belonged to a certain kind of person with a certain kind of mind – computer programmers who could crank code, lawyers who could craft contracts, MBAs who could crunch numbers. But the keys to the kingdom are changing hands. The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind – creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers. These people – artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, caregivers, consoler, big-picture thinkers – will now reap society’s richest rewards and share its greatest joys.

This book describes a seismic – though as yet undetected – shift now underway in much of the advanced world. We are moving from an economy and a society built on the logical, linear, computer-like capabilities of the Information Age to an economy and a society built on the inventive, empathetic, big-picture capabilities of what’s rising in its place – the Conceptual Age.”

Value, Innovation, Creativity, Employability and Profitability

Anyone looking for the clearest picture into value creation in the coming century should read this. Understanding this great shift will bridge the generation gaps with Gen X, Gen Y and Boomer employees, making your company organically innovative, giving you sustained competitive advantage in your marketplace.

If you are a potentially disillusioned member of GenX or GenY and you wonder how you fit in, you will love what Pink says. You also should be familiar with Ryan Dorsey, and his bestseller, My Reality Check Bounced.

Did I mention that this is a key to sustained higher profitability?

My practical study into the People-Profit relationship parallels much of what Pink and Dorsey describe sociologically. There is a huge deficit of profitability missed by most every company, simply because current mechanical management practices prevent them from realizing the tremendous creativity and innovation contained in their own, current workforce. [Read again: Current practices actually prevent companies from making as much as they can.]

Don't wait until you get much further behind before you begin to convert from the mechanical to the organic business. You might lose your best resources while you wait.

As always, early adopters will reap the greatest benefit.

Did I mention profit?

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