Paul is a professional keynote conference speaker and expert facilitator on innovation and lateral thinking. He helps companies improve idea generation and creative leadership. His workshops transform innovation leadership skills and generate great ideas for business issues. His recent clients include Airbus, Microsoft, Unilever, Nike, Novartis and Swarovski. He has published 30 books on lateral thinking puzzles, innovation, leadership and problem solving (with over 2 million copies sold). He also acts as link presenter at conferences and facilitator at high level meetings such as a corporate advisory board. He has acted as host or MC at Awards Dinners. Previously, he was CEO of Monactive, VP International of MathSoft and UK MD of Ashton-Tate. He recently launched a series of podcast interviews entitled Insights from Successful People.
On June 27 1976 Air France flight 139 from Tel-Aviv to Paris was hijacked following a stop at Athens airport. Security at Athens was lax and four terrorists boarded the flight. Two were German, Brigitte Kuhlmann and Wilfried Bose and two were Palestinian. The plane was forced to fly to Benghazi, Libya, for refuelling and then on to Entebbe in Uganda where President Idi Amin showed his full support for the terrorists. Four more terrorists joined the group there. Jewish and Israeli passengers were separated from non-Jews who were released. The Jews were placed under the guard of the terrorists and the Ugandan Army in the airport terminal. The Air France crew courageously agreed to stay with the hostages.
In 1865 an eleven year old boy, James Greenlees, was run over by a cart in Glasgow. He was rushed to the Royal Infirmary with a gashed leg containing a multiple fracture. The normal outcome of this kind of injury at the time was either amputation or death through infection (or sometimes both). Fortunately for Greenlees, the surgeon who treated him was Joseph Lister.
Leaders of innovation have a bias for action. They get on with things. No matter how well the business is doing they are not content to settle for what has been achieved so far; they are restless to try new initiatives. These seven verbs describe some of their key actions.
Large organizations tend to treat major new product developments as serious projects which require serious resources. They use project planning tools and stage gate processes. However, despite all of the management science the large majority of new products fail – certainly in the fast moving consumer goods sector. So maybe corporations should copy some of the ideas and methods used by tiny start-ups. These new-born enterprises have limited funds and limited time – if the funds run out before the product is proven they die. So the basic philosophy of the start-up entrepreneur is risk mitigation. Here are some other key precepts:
You probably shy away from some people on social occasions. Their conversations are tedious. You groan inwardly when they approach for you know that they are unremittingly dull company. Equally you may be fortunate enough to know some brilliant conversationalists who can enliven any discussion and who are excellent company whatever the circumstances. In what category would other people place you? How can you improve your conversational skills to become a welcome sight at every party and social event you attend? Here are some pointers that might help.
BBN Times connects decision makers to you. Experts in their fields, worth listening to, are the ones who write our articles. We believe these are the real commentators of the future. We quickly and accurately deliver serious information around the world. BBN Times provides its readers human expertise to find trusted answers by providing a platform and a voice to anyone willing to know more about the latest trends. Stay tuned, the revolution has begun.
Copyright © BBN TIMES. All rights reserved.