Run Forrest Run.....

The latest from our Guest Blogger -  Mark Darby, Visa Europe:

OK, stick with me on this one  - it is Internal Comms related....  I started with a new personal fitness trainer last night. 2 hours of agony with a Aussie ex-boxer/sprinter.  I am unfit in a strange way - I can happily run a half-marathon, but stick me on a tennis court or a hockey pitch and I am dying after about 10 minutes.  So last night I had to re-learn how to sprint and hurdle and breathe....  My mind got confused, and my body soon followed, because I've had a particular way of doing things for a lot of years. But by the end of the session, my mind started to co-operate and despite being exhausted I actually started running quicker. 

It got me thinking about work, and how we often do things the same way - without thinking about it.  From writing announcements, running events, product launches, building the intranet, measurement - we all have a particular way of coming up with ideas. Hey, in internal comms you are supposed to be creative yourself so you don't need to pay an agency.   So how do we 'think outside the box' (arggghhh - sorry for the phrase)?    I admit that in my team we don't tend to go further than flip charts, or an occassional mind-map. 

We are currently thinking about ditching our company e-zine and spending the budget on something completely different that engages employees.  How would you get creative over it and find a new way of running?  Any ideas?

Comments

[Tom Keefe]

Mark,

Just like you had to be evaluated by someone else (your trainer), comms folk could benefit from having objective outside eyes see what you have now, and then give ideas for other options.

You could reach out to the members of The Communicators' Network, bring samples to industry conferences and shows, or hire a consultant to provide the review and idea service.

[Myrna Nakad]

You could try using Roger van Oech's 'Creative Whack Pack': a set of 64 cards with 64 suggestions to find a 'different'way to approach things. For instance: 'Find a Pattern', 'Imagine how others would do it', 'Slay a Sacred Cow','Look somewhere else'and 60 other ideas. Really useful to pull one or more of these cards when you find you're stuck in a rut.
There's also a book. Both cards and book are available via Amazon.

[Allison Toner]

My suggestion (that is also extremely simple) ASK YOUR EMPLOYEES! Too many employers neglect the gold held within them. Employees believe in what they helped create. If you want to engage them you need to give them control over their work circumstances. Proof of this was in a test where one group of people were asked to proof read writing and do puzzles in a room that had random loud noises. The next group were asked to do the same but had a button to push to make the noise stop. No one used the button but the second group got twice as much work done. Why? By knowing the button was there they were in control.So whatever problem you are trying to fix or goal you are trying to achieve let your employees lead the way.
My views are brought to you all the way from New Zealand!www.nicheforecasting.co.nz