The Four Drivers Of Innovation

I strongly recommend that you read this article from the Gallup Organization on the Four Drivers of Innovation even though it’s geared to larger businesses and not home business per se.

The “drivers” of innovation in a company that allow it to be more flexible and competitive are:

1. Engaged Employees who care instead of drones who don’t give a darn. I’ve known with many many workers who were downsized, laid off, etc. I believe they cared enough about their jobs to have turned the plant around but management was too self centered to really care. Some big wig wanted an extra million that year in his or her pay package even if that meant 100 families hitting the skids. But when management does care, workers can turn things around if they are are engaged using Gallup’s Q12 concepts.
2. Managers should not be in the running to be profiled in a Dilbert(r)  comic strip! They say it alot more elegantly than I just did of course. You don’t have donkeys train stallions how to run… except in the corporate world.
3. Relationships matter. When you and your company are a trusted provider, you’ll inevitably be asked by your customers to do new things that generate extra revenues that weren’t in your original job description but give you a unique advantage in keeping the business and expanding your income. This means longer term security in the business, referrals to new accounts, and less stress in business.
4.  Keeping the right leaders… Hey, I assume you won’t fire yourself even if you mess up. But in a way you should… analyze your defeats and build on your successes. As tempting as it is, try not to stay in your make believe world. In that world, any hype filled sales letter and the next $500 course or gizmo are going to make you rich. In the real world you know what can work for you given your talents and time. So “keep the good leader” in yourself by cultivating self-honesty while looking for new opportunities that fit your personality and skills.