Daily Buzz: Unlock Your Team’s Creativity

Yes, we all know that truly creative ideas push boundaries. But creativity is also the most important leadership trait  (opens in a new tab) for you and your team to possess when it comes to the future success of your association.

Rebecca Shambaugh, a contributor for Harvard Business Review, sat down with an executive vice president of a Fortune 500 company, named “Ashley,” who explained that leaders who rely on the same ideas from past successes, or who have people around them who parrot their ideas, are holding their organizations back.

To unlock the inspired ideas that will push innovation in your own team, Shambaugh suggests the following:

Don’t get stuck in the process. “Innovation is driven neither by processes nor systems; it’s generated by human talent,” Shambaugh says. “No matter what procedures you have in place, it’s only the creative confidence and drive of individuals—and the collective intelligence of teams—that takes companies to new frontiers.”

Set the right brainstorming environment. Allow team members to take risks, explore ideas both big and small, and encourage healthy debate. Such conversations can expand employees’ thinking and unlock new ideas.

Encourage a growth mindset. “In short, developing a growth mindset is about helping people move from fear to courage, and beyond perfectionism, to seek a level of excellence that’s ‘good enough,’” Shambaugh says. “This leadership challenge calls for guiding people to step out of the norm, crack their old assumptions, and stay open to new possibilities for creative insights.”

Nonprofits’ New Job Opportunity

“The nonprofit world wouldn’t be the first group of thoughtful leaders to be blindsided by technological change.” https://t.co/Ldd5o1oZSA  (opens in a new tab)

— The Chronicle of Philanthropy (@Philanthropy) February 1, 2019  (opens in a new tab)

Think the gig economy doesn’t affect your association? Think again.

“The rise of irregular employment is driven by fundamentals: new technologies, corporate short-termism, waning unions, deregulation,” says Wingham Rowan in a post for The Chronicle of Philanthropy  (opens in a new tab). “And it profoundly affects the people foundations and nonprofits seek to help—people who do not have the skills, education, or life circumstances that make full-time work a viable option.”

As the gig economy evolves, Rowan says, these changes provide nonprofits with a unique opportunity to experiment with new work arrangements that place focus on “the needs of people seeking employment, not just company bottom lines.”

To provide these new roles, organizations will probably have to change processes. Because the gig economy is changing fast, Rowan recommends minimizing research and strategizing about the future of work. Instead, look for ways that technology, for example, can be used more efficiently. “And above all, stop thinking about jobs and focus on work,” he says.

Other Links of Note

One Facebook Live broadcast could provide dozens more content opportunities. Social Media Today breaks down how repurposing content can fuel your marketing strategy  (opens in a new tab).

Public trust in social institutions is declining. The Stanford Social Innovation Review explains how to replenish and cultivate confidence in your organization  (opens in a new tab).

Advocacy efforts can strengthen your relationship with members and improve your bottom line. Here’s how nonprofits should start their advocacy journey  (opens in a new tab), from the Wild Apricot blog.

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