Articles
Creativity versus Innovation
Bob Irwin and Wayne Lotherington
Extract from "The Innovation Pipeline"

We’ve seen many definitions of Innovation. Some include Creativity within the meaning of Innovation, while others do the opposite… they define Innovation as a part of Creativity. And we’ve heard Creativity and Innovation mentioned in the same breath to mean the same or different things.

All of this tends to suggest that Creativity and Innovation are difficult concepts to grasp, but we don’t believe that is so. And because we think that the clearer our understanding of a word, a concept or a thing, the more useful it is to us, we will commence by suggesting clear and workable definitions of the two terms, Creativity and Innovation.

We define them separately because doing so emphasises the differences between them as well as the links between them. Let’s start with Creativity:

Creativity is the merging of ideas which have not been merged before. New ideas are formed by developing current ones within our minds.

This definition is saying that when we get a new idea it comes from the connection of two other things we already know about, whether they are obvious or tucked well away in our brain. This notion of connecting ideas is explained and illustrated fully in “Flicking Your Creative Switch – Developing Brighter Ideas for Business”. (Lotherington)

If Creativity is about generating new ideas, Innovation is about putting them into practice. It is the successful exploitation of new ideas. In other words, Innovation is about implementation... taking the creative new idea and turning it into something of value.
We think these three points summarise it well:

1.  Innovation is putting an idea into practice. If an idea remains just an idea, there is no Innovation.
2.  Innovation is the “pay-off” when an idea becomes an outcome. Ideas are wonderful thoughts but they are worth little until they are implemented.
3.  Innovation gets started when we evaluate our many ideas and decide which one(s) are worth the time and effort to bring to fruition.

You see, the work isn’t done just because we have generated ideas – that might be the fun part, but it’s just the beginning. Innovation requires discipline and action for evaluating ideas, testing them, modifying them, and applying them. It’s these disciplines and actions that turn an idea into something of value.


Supervisor Support Critical for Innovative Behaviors
Angeline Lim

A recent study in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology found that when employees perceive their supervisors to be supportive of their innovative ideas, they will feel encouraged to use their influence to carry out innovative activities at work. On the other hand, if they perceive their supervisors as being not supportive, it will inhibit them from doing so.

The researchers in The Netherlands who conducted this study suggest that organisations have partial control over the behavior of supervisors in the organisation, and that supervisors can be trained to respond to employee innovativeness in a supportive fashion - by providing information, resources and sociopolitical backing.

Reflecting upon this issue from the perspective of a creative consultancy, we recognize that this is an important issue for organisations to consider. Organisations who recognize the need to leverage on creativity and innovation for excellent organisational performance, and also the need to unleash the creative potential of their employees often rush head-on into training programmes. However, they have to bear in mind that a training programme will only equip their employees with the basics of creativity, and it is only through employees being given the space and opportunity to unleash their creative potential that creativity can successfully be incorporated into the organisational culture and translated into success for the organisation. 

At Allsorts, we understand this, and work together with clients to bring creativity manifested in our different workshops to all levels of an organisation on a needs basis.


Losing Clients is Easy
Greg Alder
Extract from the forthcoming book "The Fine Art of Losing Clients"


Are you a natural at losing clients? You know what? You don’t have to be born a loser to become a loser. Anyone can enjoy an enviable (if costly) reputation for losing clients.

How do you lose clients? Easy. In fact, to lose clients you mightn’t need to change a single thing about the way you handle their business. Simply do any of the following and you’re guaranteed to lose clients. 

1. Tell your client anything you think he wants to hear – even when it’s the opposite of what you know he SHOULD hear.

2. When you make a mistake, don’t admit it. Make up a story to cover the mistake.

3. Neglect existing clients in favour of newer clients.

4. Don’t make any attempt to understand your client’s beliefs or culture.

5. See your clients as little as possible. Your name on the door is enough to remind them of your existence.

6. Hand your clients’ multi-million dollar business to increasingly junior staff. Roll over the staff handling your client’s business as soon as the current staff member really understands that business. Don’t worry if none of the people handling your clients can see or understand the big picture. That’s the client’s job.

7. Become exactly like your clients. Dress the same. Think the same. Talk the same. That way, clients will feel they are talking to themselves.

8. Let yourself go. Become a fat, lazy and careless company.

9. Make lots of little mistakes. They’re not as spectacular as one huge one – but they are often more infuriating. Do not “sweat the details”.

10. Show a healthy level of contempt for your clients. Be late for meetings. Never apologise for being late.

11. Rehash, recycle, regurgitate. If you give a client something original once, he or she will expect it every time.

12. Don’t give clients things they didn’t ask for – or pay for. Giving them unsolicited gifts or advice smacks of caring too much.

13. Don’t make promises.

14. Don’t listen to your clients. Make them explain everything at least twice.

15. Make it impossible for a client to judge if he or she is getting good value.

16. Let clients see how your senior people loathe each other. Bad chemistry can lead to some spectacularly explosive situations.

17. Do something dubious. Misuse your clients’ budgets and abuse their trust.

18. If all these fail, do something illegal.

Recognise situations that are close to home? Maybe you read something and thought, “Wow, I’m doing that!” Or “Funny, that’s what one of MY clients did just last week.” If so, then there’s a good chance you’re well on your way to losing your client.

Want to keep your clients? Well, obviously, do the opposite of any of the actions described above. Be honest, anticipative, responsive, intuitive, humble, diligent, original and creative!

A warning: Losing clients can be disruptive. Losing clients means losing income and losing income can seriously hinder your lifestyle. According to Harvard Business Review, a 5% increase in client retention can increase profits by nearly 100% and halving losses will more than double a company’s growth rate.

You can learn many of the skills needed to keep clients in Allsorts workshops.