So you are looking for innovative ways to increase your profits without going for the short-term quick fix; cutting expenses.
Congratulations!
In this global very competitive technological business environment now more than ever is the time for businesses to invest in their employees so they have the time, energy and desire to solve problems by discovering, combining, arranging insights, ideas, and methods in new ways.
The real problem amongst Australian management is a lack of appreciation of the potential for innovation. We have some outstanding companies and managers in Australia, but we also have a lot that are second-rate, introspective, cossetted and slow. Far greater priority should be given to management education and to policies for improving the capacity of firms to innovate.
The benefits of innovation are much more than increasing corporate profits it’s more about creating a better experience for everyone. Through innovation, we can give each successive generation an easier, longer and more rewarding life than the one before.
For many, innovation is perceived as a precursor to more unwelcome changes at work and potentially to job losses. Actually, innovation creates new jobs and brings excitement and meaning into work as people are given the opportunity to explore and try new things.

A passionate, healthy balanced life becomes a reality instead of an idealism that very few appear to have achieved.

Research reveals that challenging passion-driven work, making a difference, recognition, employee involvement and job security are the top five career motivators. When employees have, these requirements met they stick around so companies don’t have to spend as much time and hard earned profits recruiting and training new workers. Happy employees tend to rave about their workplace, which can attract new talent. When job seekers are clamoring to work for a company, that company gets to choose the cream of the crop to join their team.
Companies need to provide these qualities if they want to increase their profits, create a more conducive environment, be an employer of choice, all whilst assisting their employees to realise their full potential in their professional life.

A win-win for all.

Why the Innovation Intelligence book

As a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a publicly listed company, I wish that I had the tools, insights and awareness, then, that I am about to share.

During my CFO tenure, I was very much living my life in a Ground-Hog Day Daze, as I now like to call it. I was working, eating, and drinking too much, always in fight mode, totally denying my feminine side, very competitive, running on empty, unfulfilled, not understanding that adrenalin causes burnout, exhaustion, and disconnectedness.
I always thought “Surely there must be an easier way to achieve at such a high level?”
I now know that not only did I do a disservice to myself, but also to the company and more importantly to all the employees. As a senior manager, I could have easily made a huge difference to the culture, work ethic and health of the employees all leading to a healthier bottom line.
After collaborating with and studying numerous organisations, I am a great believer that your workforce are your greatest assets. The hugely profitable organisations run their entire company with Innovation Intelligence utilising the F.L.Y. system.
They value the ethos of “Together We Make a Difference” as the more employees are appreciated, heard, valued and shown respect, the more passionate, productive and motivated they will become. Creating a fantastic workplace, that attracts high-caliber personnel and greater profits.
Your employees are your company’s real competitive advantage. They’re the ones making the magic happen—as long as their needs are being met. When they know we truly care about them—and not just about what we can get out of them—they tend to go the extra mile.

Assist your employees to move from tired, worn out, depressed, over-worked, and under-appreciated workers to being more aware, grateful, healthier, energised and satisfied employees, and they’ll be more efficient, productive and more creative. They will tend to work harder, contribute more, and call in sick less. They’ll feel empowered, appreciated, and will become more loyal.

Despite the obvious advantages of ensuring employee satisfaction, many organisations struggle with how to introduce innovation intelligence to achieve that goal.
That is why I’ve written this book.

Not sure where to start?

I truly believe that collaboration and delegation are the two things every successful person (male or female) has mastered in all areas of their lives.

Collaboration
Collaboration is highly diversified teams working together inside and outside a company with the purpose to create value by improving innovation, customer relationships and efficiency while leveraging technology for effective interactions in the virtual and physical space. ~ Carlos Dominguez

Achieving true collaboration, where the whole is more than the mere sum of the individual parts, may not be easy.
To achieve collaboration, everyone must have self-awareness and high self-esteem. Everyone must set aside their ego, trust one another and share their expertise willingly.
I truly wish that I had been consciously aware of this when I was younger. How many times I had fights with people just because they had a different opinion and/or my ego got in the way. When we are in our “knowing”, there is no longer a requirement for us to force our opinions onto other people.
It is such a beautiful space to be in. We can just sit back thinking and listening to other people. It is not from a self-righteous or superior space, it is just from our knowing. This saves so much energy and time, as we don’t care who comes up with the best ideas, it’s the whole team who will create value by improving innovation, customer relations and efficiencies.

Do you collaborate with others?

Delegation
To entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself. “You must delegate duties so as to free yourself for more important tasks”

For a few, delegating comes easily, maybe too easy. For others who are perfectionists, letting go of even the most trivial task is almost impossible.
Delegating isn’t losing control but rather letting go of what could be holding you back from moving up. And to delegate, you need to shun the temptation to micromanage. Show people how you want things done, and then allow them to exercise some initiative and bring suggestions to you.
Choose what tasks you are willing to delegate. You should be using your time on the most critical tasks for the business (personal life), and the tasks that only you can do. Delegate what you can’t do, and what doesn’t interest you.
Some of the easiest tasks for women to consider delegating are the house chores – cleaning, laundry, cooking and shopping. I’m a great believer that no-one lies on their death bed wishing that they had cleaned more!!
Think about how much time this would free up in your week. Get past the idea that you are a failure you are making yourself more available to spend quality time in your other areas of life.
Also, don’t get trapped in thinking that if you delegate major tasks, you won’t be needed. You are the main engine of your area. You are the one who is making sure everything runs like clockwork and assist people when required.

You are building a team of people who will have self-esteem and self-worth and eventually will have a CEO focus where they will learn to delegate, leverage, time, energy and resources.
Of course, when good work is returned to you, make sure to both recognise and reward the effort. As a leader, you should get in the practice of complimenting members of your team every time you are impressed by what they have done.
This effort on your part will go a long way toward building team member’s self-confidence and efficiency, both of which will be improved on the next delegated task; hence, you both win.

What are you going to start delegating today? Are you ready to build a team who have a CEO focus and value collaborating and delegating?

Not sure where to start?