[REVIEW] The Innovation Workout
Guest Blogger | 2 November 2015 | Blogs
How many times have you sat in yet another planning meeting, created a Post-It Note storm and gone away with an armful of flip charts to convert into the same-old branded word document you see every day? Perhaps it’s your annual lip service to creativity. Or perhaps it’s a genuinely brilliant piece of progress that hits the same brick wall of inexperience, busyness and fear every time.
As a middle-manager with enthusiasm and drive to bring change but the lack of resources and/or authority to implement it, these Post-It Note sessions are frustratingly predictable. Being stuck with strands of conceived and fragile ideas is as much of a burden as actually birthing one. You know someone somewhere will look at you in six months and say, “Oh yeah, I remember that old chestnut – what ever happened with that idea?”
The Innovation Workout is for you.
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This book is written for the fear-ridden non-starters who carry many strands of innovative genius, but never knew how to put down their load, unpick the puzzle and piece it back together.
It’s also for the untainted novices with a zeal and freshness that’s not been knocked by bureaucracy, doubt and failure.
But it’s also for regular people like you and me who are dedicated to a cause, slightly stale with their routine, but keen to get stuck in and make a difference.
Filled with a healthy balance of direction, challenge and reflection, this book provides a strong platform by which to view not only the future of your organisation, but also your own personal development.
Packed full of tips ready to be tested and resources waiting to be downloaded, The Innovation Workout removes any excuse to hide behind old evasions or simply wait for someone else to do a better job. As Gower rightly points out, ‘Innovation rarely happens in a vacuum’ – so you can expect this workout to be both proactive and interactive.
Laid out as a comprehensive step-by-step guide, The Innovation Workout is designed to take the reader on a journey from the sofa to the boardroom leaving no stone unturned. Unpacking the innovation cycle in an approachable and practical manner, Gower weaves in live and historic case studies to inspire, challenge and generally make you think, “I wish I thought of that.”
As a coach breaks a runner’s bad habits, so The Innovation Workout suggests, ‘If you want to make big changes you need to throw the strategic plan away and create a burning platform, forcing a situation where doing the same activities as last year is not an option.’ But although challenging, each step is steeped in practical exercises, contextual advice and good ideas. She won’t leave you floundering.
So if you were hoping to keep your life simple, predictable and smooth, don’t read this book. It will burst your bubble.
But if you’re wanting more from your career planning and are looking for in-depth advice on how to put your ideas into action, this book will form a formidable part of your toolkit.
Annoyingly applicable to any real working environment, you will find yourself inspired and challenged to quit the excuses and just give it a go.
But as with any workout, the biggest breakthrough is simply making a start.
Whether it be setting the alarm an hour earlier or visiting Lucy’s website, that first day of action is the most victorious. And why does that somehow always need to wait until Monday morning? We all know Monday’s are miserable enough already. Perhaps you should start your innovation workout today.
With experience in community fundraising, individual giving and direct marketing across various non-profit organisations, Jo Lamb strives to approach the increasingly challenging fundraising environment with creativity, ambition and flair. Currently a Fundraising Development Manager at a national children’s charity, she manages various regional campaigns, specialising in project management, copywriting and innovation. With a passion for emotive storytelling, she has also written and edited pieces of fundraising and fictional literature both online and in print.
Find The Innovation Workout in the UK Fundraising bookshop.
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