Let's Talk Innovation: Benchmarking, Breakthrough Design, and Women Trailblazers (Nov 18, 2022)

A QUOTE THAT I AM PONDERING

"_______ is [Always/Never] the solution to a problem.?In my experience, ‘always’ and ‘never’ are rarely useful ways to approach a problem. ‘Sometimes’ requires nuance and insight and discovery. It might not be the lazy response, but if you’ve got a problem, it might be worth thinking about how to solve it."Seth Godin

INSIGHT

Can You Benchmark Your Way To A Breakthrough Plan Design?

Designing quality HR programs is as much an art as it is a science.??

Industry benchmarking data will provide you with scientific insight as to where the programs stand in relation to peers, but this quantitative data is of little value in determining employee satisfaction (aka the value) of the program itself.??

To use an investment analogy, being in line with the benchmark is of little consequence if the benchmark is down 10%.

Data about existing markets is not relevant to achieving genuine breakthroughs and sustainable plan design innovations.

"American pragmatist philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce’s observation that no new idea in the history of the world has been proven in advance analytically, which means that if you insist on rigorous proof of the merits of an idea during its development, you will kill it if it is truly a breakthrough idea, because there will be no proof of its breakthrough characteristics in advance.?

If you are going to screen innovation projects, therefore, a better model is one that has you assess them on the strength of their logic—the theory of why the idea is a good one—not on the strength of the existing data. Then, as you get further into each project that passes the logic test, you need to look for ways to create data that enables you to test and adjust—or perhaps kill—the idea as you develop it."

Roger L. Martin,?A New Way to Think: Your Guide to Superior Management Effectiveness

If benchmarking isn’t going to be the way to a more innovative design, what is the path?? One that is based on the strength of the knowledge of your industry, the people who are attracted to work for you, and the purpose of your organization.

Consider:

1. Does the business know/understand what investments they will need to make with respect to talent to foster future growth and innovation?
2. How do the leadership team, the people managers, and employees define “flexibility”?
3. Does the organization have clarity on its purpose?? Does it drill down into the purpose that the work serves in people’s lives?? Why do people come to work for you?? Why would they go through the wall for you?
4. Which strategy does the organization use for acquiring talent?? Which will support growth & innovation?

Buy talent

Build talent

Borrow talent

Bridge talent

5. How is the talent strategy set up to be able to manage innovation, productivity and the grind that will be required?

6 How will the demographics of the organization change over the next 3 to 5 years?

Do the designs of your people programs align with the answer to the above???Food for thought.

COMMUNITY

Tremendous power comes from being aware of how we are connected through community and the responsibility that comes with that awareness.

UBUNTU: "I am because we are"

As a father of four daughters (ages 20 to 25), I am inspired by great women business/community leaders who are striving to create a better future.? With that, I would like to introduce you to 3 wonderful organizations and their talented female leaders:

Eleven Eleven Talent and their founders Tess Sloane and Alisha Adams.?

Tess & Alisha are passionate about elevating women in business and entrepreneurship. They believe in everyone’s right to design a life they love through awakening their purpose, passion, and career.??

With that passion in mind, I share with you their Executive Women’s Toolkit.

Next, Maturn and their founders Jen Murtagh and Sonja Baikogli.

Jen & Sonja created Maturn to shift the narrative and foster support systems around maternity leave in Canada so that more working mothers can advance in their careers and retain positions of leadership with greater support from employers, partners, and like-minded mothers.?

In the spirit of community, I share with you their Maternity, Motherhood & Leadership programs.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Stay safe!

Paul