John Winsor

Leadership

For far too long we have lacked the kind of leadership that is decisive, open and firm. Not only has there been a void in government but also in the private sector where many leaders have lost sight of their responsability to lead with humility and vision, instead focusing on enriching themselves by putting their personal agendas first before that of the long-term viability of the stakeholders they work for.

My hope is that Barrack Obama's example will inspire a new generation of leaders that flip the paradigm, recognizing that the meaning of leadership is not to sit a top an organizational pyramid but, instead, flip the pyramid upside down and focus on supporting, inspiring and nourishing the organizations they are honored enough to lead.   

Human to Human

I just saw this from Seth Godin. It certainly could be a good way to look at traditional  versus digital advertising, as well. In the end it’s all about the people. Corporations and, for that matter agencies, can get in the way of real, human connection. That’s the stuff we need to help our clients build. We need to help them knock down the walls that get in the way of people on the inside having real conversations with people on the outside and visa versa.

Find New Ways to Work with Partners

Google and Procter and Gamble are swapping employees and comparing ideas that will make both companies learn how to be more innovative.

Advertising Kills Bad Products

Historically, many companies have overlooked the fact that the product itself was often the most powerful brand-building tool they have. And, advertising agencies and branding experts seduced them into thinking that marketing was the only way to connect with consumers. At the same time, many companies have underestimated consumers’ ability to recognize innovation. Today the ability to innovate is not only the best marketing tool but the best way to grow revenues and profits, especially in uncertain times. But, innovating means taking risks. Most products are marketed to reach an old market. Good product design has the ability to create a whole new market.

Merging Reality and Virtuality

Think About Chemistry

Lot’s of times innovation is assigned to a cross functional team. Instead of thinking about what specific people should be on each team, think about what functions the team needs to get done, then about he chemistry of the team. Often times it’s an intuitive thing. You’ve been there. A team with too many leaders is just as hard to deal with as a team with no leaders at all. Sometimes, getting the right chemistry is more important that getting the people on the team.

Obama's Lessons for Innovators

Umair Haque at the Havas Media Lab penned a great article at HBR entitled "Obama's Seven Lessons for Radical Innovators."

Here are the seven:

1. Have a self-organization design.
2. Seek elasticity of resilience.
3. Minimize strategy.
4. Maximize purpose.
5. Broaden unity.
6. Thicken power.
7. Remember that there is nothing more asymmetrical than an ideal.

It's a new day not only in politics but also in business.

Take Work Home

It sounds awful. Yet, that’s what it takes these days. No longer can you close your computer and turn off your Blackberry when you pull away from work. Unfortunately. Yet it’s hard for a lot of people to erase the line between work and life. Think about it. It’s all the same anyway. The thing that gets in the way is the word “work.” Someone could work as a graphic artist and build engines as a hobby or work as an engine builder and have a hobby as a graphic artist. It’s all semantics. What’s important is the passion. If you’re passionate about what you do and what you make, the lines between work and life will blur without even trying. Be more passionate instead of thinking about working harder.

Motrin, Round 2

While Motrin did respond to the conversation on Twitter, they could have offered a real, human response.

As usual, Seth Godin has some good thoughts about it.

Motrin Learns the Power of Twitter

Motrin learns the power of social media.