Lead With Ideas

While managers have many oversight responsibilities, we also need to have and develop good ideas that move our organizations towards their goals.  At least from the manager level and up, individuals come up with the ideas – not some nebulous “they”.  Thus “they” are not the (only) ones to solve problems and create new services.  “We” are the ones.

How do we have ideas?

• Be alert to our service environment.  While performing oversight responsibilities, actively consider if processes could be changed or if service gaps are turning away customers. 
• Listen to involved staff.  Both front-line staff and supervisory staff have observations about how they spend their days.  Although acting on every comment would be unproductive, we can mentally (or actually) note the observations and develop ways of effecting change that addresses the comments.
• Participate in professional activities.  Other organizations manage and work differently from our own, and these differences can spark ideas for change and transformation.  Inquire further, and in support of a really promising idea, ask for a tour or other type of informative meeting.
• Chat with colleagues.  Informal conversations are great idea generators.  Have coffee more often with colleagues, not just the “usual” group, but also with managers in other departments and organizations.  After the talk about the Grey Cup, minds often turn to the links you have and the ways things could be improved.