What if I get it wrong?

I was reminded over the Christmas holiday of the story – no doubt apocryphal, but interesting nonetheless – of the young girl whose class was asked by her teacher to draw a picture. When the teacher asked her what she had decided to draw, she replied that she would draw a picture of God. “That’s […]

The innovative gorilla

For reasons that I don’t entirely understand, I have had a lifelong passion for gorillas. These mammoth creatures, the largest primates, are at the same time majestic and intriguing, frightening yet adorable. I suspect it’s their intriguing behaviours that most capture my attention. And not only my attention – researchers also find many of their […]

Twelve paradoxes of innovation

In my leadership development programmes, I often cite the Eleven Paradoxes of Leadership that used to hang on the office wall of every manager at Lego. Their simplicity masks their profundity. And, as so often is the case, paradox – or perhaps better put, creative tensions – can provide powerful insights. To put it another […]

The Role of Executive Coaching in Fostering Business Innovation

In the rapidly evolving contemporary business landscape staying ahead of the competition and driving innovation has become more critical than ever. To navigate the challenges and seize opportunities in this dynamic environment, businesses need visionary leaders who can foster a culture of innovation. Executive coaching has long been recognised as a powerful tool to develop […]

The value of the KTH Innovation Readiness Levels as a tool to promote and assess innovation

Innovation is the process of creating new or improved products, services, processes, or business models that meet the needs and expectations of customers, stakeholders, and society. Innovation is essential for economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability. However, innovation is also challenging, risky, and uncertain. So how can we measure and manage the innovation process […]

Leveraging Leadership Development for Driving Innovation

As businesses strive to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape, innovation has become a key driver of success. To cultivate a culture of innovation within organisations, developing effective leaders is paramount. Good leadership development programs offer a comprehensive approach to enhancing leadership skills, fostering a mindset of innovation, and driving transformative change. In this […]

Coaching the innovating organisation in a post-pandemic world

Rebecca Collins and Keith Straughan The authors of Coaching the innovating organisation in a post-pandemic world (Adapted from a paper presented at The University Forum for Human Resource Development Annual Conference, 2022 at Sheffield Hallam University, UK) have long-standing experience working as consultants and coaches with a broad range of clients, cross-sector and cross-scale who […]

The knowledge value chain (KVC)

KFC are initials that might slip off the tongue, even if the product doesn’t necessarily slip past the tongue. No doubt the acronym KVC – as applied to the knowledge value chain – is much less known, though I believe the concept is incredibly valuable, if not necessarily as a commodity but as a valuable […]

Making the 5Cs real

In my post on 1 Aug 2022, I summarised my wide-ranging conversation on Heath Gascoigne’s podcast addressing the many challenges of successful business transformation programmes. It will come as no surprise to most of the organisations and their people undergoing the transformation, that a failure to pay proper attention to the people and culture dimensions […]

Unlocking Growth through Innovation: The Role of a Strategic Advisor

In the fast-paced contemporary business landscape, companies must continuously innovate to drive growth and stay ahead of the competition. Navigating the complexities of innovation requires strategic insight and innovation expertise. A strategic advisor can play a pivotal role in helping businesses harness the power of innovation to foster growth. Strategic Vision and Roadmap A strategic […]