All posts by Steven Cramer

Mannequin Motivation

Interview Series, Arlington Street between Boylston and Newbury Streets, Store Window Displays, Ida Claire and Esther Dorothy, Inc.

When walking past any clothing department store, you will typically observe a mannequin in the shop window parading the latest fashions and accessories.

The purpose of this promotional activity is to attract your attention and to entice you into thinking about how those clothes may look on you. As part of this process, you may visualize where you could wear these exciting items of clothing, and also the reaction you may receive from your friends, family and work colleagues. Your thoughts are no longer standing in front of the shop window, they are now travelling to various geographic locations and different emotional states via the use of your imagination.

What about using the motivational benefits derived from these mannequins in the corporate office?

Just imagine having a mannequin strategically positioned in the office foyer as you enter the building. Each Monday morning, the attire of the mannequin would change to provide a theme for the week and to act as a thought provoker. Some potential clothing options:

Personal Wellbeing: sporting clothes (eg tennis outfit)
Creative Thinking: 1960s “flower power” clothes
Watch out for the competition: a suit of armor
New Business Development: a mountain explorer
Appraisal Time: a corporate suit
Holidays: swimwear

The mannequin could also hold message signs to highlight specific business events and communications. For instance, if it was the boss’s birthday, a sign stating “It’s my birthday today, so please enjoy a longer lunch break to celebrate!”….the possibilities are endless!

So next time you walk past that clothing store, think about the “motivational mannequin” and how it could improve the morale in your business.

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by Steven Cramer on July 5, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on July 5, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/07/05/mannequin-motivation/

The Importance of the Joker

The Jokers of the Pack

In a pack of playing cards, there is the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and the other numbered cards which comprise the full set of 52. These cards have a different value, suit or family, and can be utilized in a variety of permutations in the construction of numerous games.

There is an interesting comparison here with the corporate organizational structure where there is the CEO, General Managers, middle management and the workers. Each business uses their “cards” to differentiate their “playing hand” to try and achieve a competitive advantage. However, with many companies using similar cards, the game can be tough unless one player has a trump card which can provide a winning move.

This unique and powerful trump card is typically the Joker which has the ability to transform into any other card in the pack. In business, the “Joker” accepts no assigned job title or limitation and readily takes on any senior or junior role that is required to win the game.

In business we need more “Jokers”. These are employees that are not intimidated by the existing organization chart, nor the other players, and are prepared to provide the required strategic and timely moves into the business game to achieve success. They play within the rules, but they think creatively and with purpose.

So, to ensure that your house of business cards does not crumble under external stress, I encourage you to make sure that you have a good supply of Jokers in your deck!

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by Steven Cramer on July 3, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on July 3, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/07/03/the-importance-of-the-joker/

The Corporate Zoo

Zoo

If the corporate office was likened to a zoo, it would have a collection of many different animals all roaming freely throughout the building. Each animal would have its individual innate work style and unique personality traits. Inside the animal enclave, each animal would need to learn to adapt to the surrounding work environment or mayhem would prevail.

Some animals would want to maintain their own personal space, others may form packs to work more effectively together and for their longer term survival.

The question is…..which animal are you?

Are you…..

The Peacock:
Roams the office with a showy plumage to impress your fellow animals and be noticed?

The Mouse:
Doesn’t want to be seen so scurries quickly around the building trying to evade direct eye contact?

The Bear:
A loud and obnoxious animal who typically has minimal friends and which other animals try and avoid?

The Cat:
Likes to have a quiet unobserved snooze in a hidden and unused office?

The Turtle:
Thinks that everything is all too hard and would prefer to be somewhere else so is very distant and aloof?

The YOU:
Is highly liked and well respected and is prepared to take on a range of animal behaviours. Sometimes the YOU is required to be a leader, other times a follower. The greatest skill of the YOU is in being able to adapt to your ever changing zoo environment to drive progress and the welfare of the total animal community and YOUrself.

I’m sure you are the YOU. However, make sure that YOU have a loud roar now and then to ensure your standing and respect within the animal kingdom!

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by Steven Cramer on July 2, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on July 2, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/07/02/the-corporate-zoo/

The Innovation Index

2 stars

When seeking out an exciting restaurant to savour and appreciate some fine gourmet delights, the dining patron has the ability to select an appropriate eating establishment via an internationally recognised rating system characterised by the number of “Michelin Stars”. The higher the number of “stars”, the greater the eating experience!

Wouldn’t it be great to have a rating system along the lines of the “Michelin Stars” for a corporate organization’s culture of innovation? (As a suggestion, these ratings could be called the “Innovation Index”, or some other creative innovative name..)

“Innovation Index”:
1 = Boring and very conservative workplace
2 = The workplace is innovative now and then
3 = There are times of brilliance, but not consistent
4 = Wow!!!

The “Innovation Index” could be promoted in the organization’s internal and external communications, websites and could even be stencilled under the company name in their registered offices.

Job seekers could use the “Innovation Index” to identify potential employers of choice, and those to keep well away from?

How would your company rate on the “Innovation Index”?

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by Steven Cramer on July 1, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on July 1, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/07/01/the-innovation-index/

Consider the FONT

Font Bureau002

Do you recall when you first learnt to hand write at school with a pencil, pen, or even a fountain pen?

I can recall spending many hours practicing to get the lettering perfect with the right loop, size, angle, colour, all of which lead to the formation of a unique writing style which became a part of my character and personality.

However, these days we all write our E-mails, presentations and documents on the computer with a common font, colour and format. This might be fine for business consistency, but why not elect to explore some different and unusual fonts which you change on a regular basis? Those reading your correspondence will notice the difference, it may also result in them thinking just that little bit differently themselves and they may even adopt your creative approach in communication?

So before you start your next E-mail…..first consider the FONT and claim your own little bit of creativity rebellion!

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by Steven Cramer on June 30, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on June 30, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/06/30/consider-the-font/

Change your Label

Shoebox with Business Cards

When you meet someone new in the work environment there is usually an exchange of business cards.

On the presentation of this card, your eyes immediately glance at the person’s name and their job title where you typically place a “label” on their rank in the organization, their skill set and their personality traits.

The person portrayed on the business card also tends to accept this “label” and modifies their personal behavior to be consistent with their job title.

Why not change the “label” and therefore allow the person to be more innovative and creative in their behavior and in the way that they perform their job role?

Let’s explore some examples:

Accountant:  “Numerical Creativity Genius”
Personal Assistant:  “Controller of the Individual”
HR:  “Body Optimization Expert”
Engineer:  “Process Enhancement Consolidator”
Marketer:  “Idea Instigator”
Others….!

Why not get some new business cards printed with your “alternative job title” and see the effect on your new business acquaintances, and how it influences your persona? It could be rather interesting…..?

 

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by Steven Cramer on June 29, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on June 29, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/06/29/change-your-label/

The GPS Business Mentor

Mario Kart Icon on TomTom GPS

There is a unique business mentor for a person starting a new job role…it is called the “GPS navigational system”!

When you think about it, the correlation and learnings are quite staggering and provide a useful insight for the new employee and their manager.

1. Starting
When you start a new job, you have minimal idea what to do, or how to go about things. You are looking for leadership and guidance as you commence your new career in the right direction.
When you turn on your GPS, it is also “lost” for the first few minutes whilst it establishes its position coordinates with the satellites.

2. The Planning
In the early stages of your new role, you and your manager discuss your learning program for the first few weeks/months.
The GPS plans your travel route.

3. The Journey Begins
The new employee and driver (user of the GPS) both follow directions as provided without straying from the chosen path.

4. Experience
With time, both the new employee and the driver become less dependent on instructions and start to experiment and explore new paths.

5. Next Steps
The manager should start to provide some “new maps” for the employee so they can obtain new and challenging experiences and expand their knowledge, skills and business horizons.

With time…”You will reach your destination”

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by Steven Cramer on June 27, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on June 27, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/06/27/the-gps-business-mentor/

The Benefits of Fog in the Office

Late night fog

It’s a marvelous experience going for a walk in the early hours of the morning when it’s dark and more importantly when there is a fog.

The fog provides an eerie and very different environment for us to appreciate as we reconcile our senses with the noticeable changes in our limited ability to see and hear.

One morning whilst recently relishing my morning fog perambulation, I recognized that many sounds that I would normally hear quite distinctly had a rather muffled tone, in fact, it was as if I was walking in a sound vacuum.

This was a “eureka moment” for solving one of the biggest issues in the open plan office, that of the “private conversation”!

The innovative solution is to have an array of fine water mist nozzles strategically placed above each employee’s workstation. When they want to have a conversation which they don’t want to share with their surrounding work colleagues, a button would be pressed on their desk that would initiate the release of the mist that would encapsulate the employee and muffle their voice. It would be just like having your own fog!

For those who want a personalized fog, a distinctive colour or scent, could be added to the mist to provide a tailored signature above their workstation.

This unique “private conversation” solution would also have the additional benefit of limiting the time spent in idle chit-chat because if one talks for too long a duration, the speaker would become rather wet with the continued exposure to the mist (unless they resort to using an umbrella).

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by Steven Cramer on June 25, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on June 25, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/06/25/the-benefits-of-fog/

The Regular “Dental Check”

Dentist/Dentist

When you go to the Dentist there is typically a check up where each of your teeth is individually examined for any detrimental effects which may impact their short and longer term performance.

A tooth that is identified as having an issue (eg decay, excessive wear, stress, etc) is targeted with an immediate corrective action to ensure its longevity with your other teeth. For those really problem teeth, a planned removal is initiated to make sure there is no negative influence on those remaining.

In the workforce, the role of a manger is a bit like a Dentist, particularly at performance appraisal time. The manager also needs to conduct regular reviews with their staff to ensure that no potentials issues arise, if one is determined, it should be quickly addressed so as to not impact the employee’s individual and overall business success.

The key is “regular brushing” and the occasional use of “dental floss”!

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by Steven Cramer on June 20, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on June 20, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/06/20/the-regular-dental-check/

The Corporate DJ

Vintage Radio

Each city in the world has a variety of radio stations blurting out their own unique brand of sound.

As a listener, we tend to move between these radio stations depending on our mood, interest and other personal needs or community objectives.

The common factor with all these radio stations is communication and the desire to be heard or listened to by an individual.

So why is it that most businesses communicate to their employees using the same repetitive “radio station” which after a while most listeners tune out from, or decide to turn off? Why don’t they mix it up and provide a variety of “radio frequencies” that suit the various listeners in their business?

The solution is the “corporate DJ” who plays a range of different music styles that are constantly changing to meet the needs of all their employees. Each “tune” can have a consistent corporate message, but the tone is different and audibly appealing to the listener.

This sounds good to me!

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by Steven Cramer on June 19, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Steven Cramer on June 19, 2013

https://thinkingfuturethoughts.com/2013/06/19/the-corporate-dj/

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