Innovation :: Refresh Leadership | Fresh Ideas for Today's Business Leaders

Archive for Innovation

New Trends in Business: QR Codes

Posted by: Jared Brox | Comments (1)

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

QR-Code First commercially used on a pack of Wrigley’s gum in 1974, the UPC barcode has enjoyed a long run as the standard auto ID data capture (AIDC) device. Found everywhere from supermarkets to hospitals, it’s nearly impossible to go a day without seeing one. However, there is a new contender that is slowly gaining popularity in the U.S.

The quick reference code, or QR code, is already widely used in Japan. It was originally created by Denso-Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, as a way to quickly track auto parts during the manufacturing process. However, QR codes are now being adapted for much broader, consumer-focused uses.
Read More→

Categories : Innovation, Trends

Comments (1)

5 Ways to Flunk Your Big Pitch to the C-Suite

Posted by: Ashlie Turley | Comments (0)

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

You’ve got a great idea! You and your team have researched, planned, and tested it. You’ve worked for weeks preparing your presentation, and even created a PowerPoint with graphs and charts. This is going to be the next big thing for your company. But, before you take your place at the front of the boardroom, make sure you’re not setting yourself up for failure with these five sure fire ways to flunk your big pitch to the top executives.

Involving them in the process at the end.
Keeping top decision makers in the dark on a project until the final decision is a great way to come to a screeching halt before crossing that finish line. On occasion, they might give their blessing, but you’re more likely to get delayed, tasked with more research, or told no if you haven’t included them in the process. Get their endorsement from the get-go, and keep them updated so they feel some ownership and input in the program and its creative process.
Read More→

Categories : Innovation, Leadership, Tips

Comments (0)

Break Bad Office Habits With This One Simple Thing

Posted by: Brie Hobbs | Comments (3)

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Last year, Volkswagen launched an initiative to change people’s behavior using one simple idea – fun. The “Fun Theory” idea was tested using three different experiments that were videotaped and uploaded on YouTube where they quickly went viral. In one experiment, 66% more people than normal chose to use the stairs instead of an escalator when the stairwell was turned into a giant piano.

Every office battles behaviors that could be changed for the better, whether it’s team members coming in late to work or getting employees to take advantage of a company wellness program. What bad office habits could you help change by adding just a pinch of fun?

To help get your wheels turning on all the possibilities, here are a few ideas.
Read More→

Categories : Get Refreshed, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Teamwork, Tips

Comments (3)

Want Employee Innovation and Accountability? Try Unlimited Vacation

Posted by: Ashlie Turley | Comments (1)

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

This month, news stories and blog posts have been popping up everywhere on the latest business trend – unlimited vacation. From Seattle to London, people are buzzing about this increasingly popular policy that, according to an NPR article by Jennifer Ludden, 1% of U.S. businesses have adopted.

While that might not sound like much, it means that one out of every 100 businesses in America have removed the “Accrued Paid Time Off” line from their paycheck stubs and now focus on their employees’ results, not their hours worked. And, it’s a trend that’s steadily growing.
Read More→

Categories : Innovation, Productivity, Trends, Workplace

Comments (1)

One Simple Way to Miss Big Opportunities

Posted by: Jim Stovall | Comments (0)

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

In business, everyone wants to “bag the elephant,” “hit a homerun,” or “land a whale.” While these are lofty goals and pursuits, most big deals started out as small deals that turned into a relationship.

This last week, I was in an elite meeting of investors, and we were hearing a message from one of the world’s top money managers. Being a former investment broker myself, I couldn’t help but think how much I would have wanted to have had a clientele like the group of people that was gathered in that room. In reality, most of those very large investors and their multimillion dollar accounts didn’t start out that way. They started out as modest investors that grew over the years.
Read More→

Categories : Executive Insights, Innovation, Inspiration, Management, Motivation, Small Business

Comments (0)

Is Your Brainstorming Broken? 7 Secrets of Effective Idea Sessions

Posted by: Tiffany Monhollon | Comments (0)

Monday, June 7th, 2010

As the saying goes, you either lead the market or chase it. How does your team respond to the changes the business world brings each day? Do they look to case studies or seek to create them? Do they see challenges as obstacles or opportunities?

As history shows, companies that are willing to invest in innovation and lead the market are often rewarded. But, interjecting creative, fresh ideas into the workplace isn’t always easy. How do you know which ideas will work? And, how do you develop great ideas to begin with? You can add more creativity to your workplace by seeking the input of your team through brainstorming. Try these seven secrets for effective brainstorming.
Read More→

Categories : Emerging Leaders, Executive Insights, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Teamwork, Tips

Comments (0)

A Dash of Unexpected Inspiration: Poetry at Work

Posted by: Brie Hobbs | Comments (0)

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Did you know it’s national poetry month?

This year, people everywhere will write down their favorite inspirational poem and carry it in their pocket for poem in your pocket day on April 29 to share with friends, family, and co-workers to add a dash of poetry and inspiration into the day.

So, in honor of national poetry month, we wanted to share an excerpt of a poem by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow, to inspire you and remind you to continue striving toward the goals and dreams you have for yourself, your staff, and for your company.
Read More→

Categories : Get Refreshed, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Trends, Workplace

Comments (0)

Leadership Lessons You Can Learn from Hockey

Posted by: Refresh Leadership | Comments (0)

Friday, April 9th, 2010

As the regular season for the National Hockey League winds down this week and I think about how last night my favorite team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, will play their last regular season game ever in Mellon Arena, I started thinking about the leadership lessons you can learn from hockey.

Inspire passion. As a Penguins fan, I’ve seen the unbelievable difference a coaching change can make for a team. In February of last year, it didn’t look like my Penguins were even going to make the playoffs. They looked tired, and their hearts just weren’t in it. Then the head coach was let go, and Dan Bylsma took over. Bylsma was the head coach of the Penguins American Hockey League team affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, and had served as an assistant coach for the NHL’s NY Islanders, but had never been the head coach for an NHL team. As a fan, I was a bit nervous, but not for long. The change in the team was instantaneous. They had their passion back, and it showed. They started winning games, and ended up finishing fourth in their conference (the top eight teams from each conference go to the playoffs), and then they went on to win it all in the Stanley Cup finals. As a leader, you fulfill the same role as a coach by instilling passion into your team.
Read More→

Categories : Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management

Comments (0)

Back to the Cubicle? 3 Places to Gain Fresh Perspective at Work

Posted by: Tiffany Monhollon | Comments (1)

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Sometimes, a change of view is exactly what you need to give you a fresh perspective on things at work.

The other day, after a long, meeting-laden afternoon, I deliberately took a few moments to go through my neglected inbox, piled too high with I’ll-get-to-that-later mail like magazines and fliers. Sorting through them, I found something I needed to review for a team member, so I sat down in the chair opposite my desk to read it.

A few moments later, I looked up, and noticed what a different view I had of things from this side of my desk. Looking out the window, I felt refreshed by the new view of things. And it got me thinking about perspective and the workplace.