Top 10 Tips

TIPS

1.            Stay on top of technology.  It’s easy to ignore however it’s changing so rapidly we need to keep up - plus exciting things are afoot - so explore. 

2.            Write a Blog on a topic, hobby, passion you have or when you are travelling.  It makes you think more deeply on your topic and connects you with the world. It can be a game-changer. Alternatively read someone else's Blog and share thoughts and ideas  

3.            Share what you learn. It’s cool to share, it’s not cool to hold onto ideas thinking it gives you leverage or power - the power is in sharing - whether it’s personal or work related.  

4.            Shift Thinking to a 'human-centered design thinking' approach.  As they say at Google

Focus on the user and all else will follow

5.            1/2hr TED education twice a week – Mark in your diary to listen to a TED talk (inspirations in Technology, Education, and Design) or read a Blog/Linkedin article to learn something new each week.  Here is one to get you started, it’s bit longer but it’s a goodie http://youtu.be/Ks-_Mh1QhMc

6.          Think BIG, start Small. Are we using our innovative/creative minds daily?  We are all creative, its just practice.  Encourage each other to feel confident and think creatively. 

7.            Tell a good story.  When presenting, take people on a ‘journey’.  A good story requires: a character; a created world (flesh and blood, eg about people with dialogue that brings them to life); obstacles; conflict/drama that has been turned around; emotion; throw in data; then make sure your story has clear meaning and a call for action.

8.            Create a Visual Management Board for yourself or your team.  It can make things a lot quicker for yourself, teams or for managers to see what you are doing and where you are up to plus it highlights what you’ve achieved.  Meetings can be quick stand-ups over the visual board

9.            Get faster. "Fail fast, fail early" Don’t dwell over a strategy, project or design for a long time – rapid prototype it – get it out there to ask for opinions.  Don’t be precious or worried about ego.  Get suggestions and keep moving. 'Build it, break it and then rebuild it"

10.        Partnerships. Be creative in the use of partnerships at work both internal & external.  What’s around us? Can we use existing resources more, put eclectic teams together? Could we involve in our projects, Individual businesses, uni students who can use an experience for reputation and resume, entrepreneurs, developers, non profits, innovation agencies and crowdsourcing platforms?