Chuck Todd and Sheldon Gawiser have recently published a book How Barack Obama Won: A State-by-State Guide to the Historic 2008 Presidential Election.  I have read a few excerpts and have listened to Todd interviewed on the subject, and I believe this is a must read for anyone who wants to learn how to lead AND market.

Reason 1: On Morning Joe this a.m., Todd pointed out how important speeches were, are and will be to President Obama.  His oratory skills are outstanding and compelling.  He uses every chance he can to sell the public on his position, and he clearly states his position with poise, charisma and strength.  His intelligence and polish are impressive.  Many pundits are arguing that the President is not winning in the “bubble” on Capitol Hill but that he is still winning with the public, and for our confidence as a nation, this matters, and it matters in a very big way!  Now his big challenge is to win with Congress.

Reason 2: Is Obama still in politicing mode?  You bet he is!  He has some major initiatives on his plate (the economy, pulling out of Iraq).  If a Presdient can’t go out and get the votes needed in Congress to get the job done, then you may as well hang it up.   Just as in politics, in business and leadership, you don’t stop campaigning…you do all in your will and power to get people on board.

Reason 3: President Obama is appealing to the intellect of the American people.  He is talking straight from the hip, lets us know that he is fully aware that we all know we are in the midst of a major recession and that we have to act swiftly to take action to turn things around.  Many leaders will try to paint a rosy picture, and I am just not hearing this from Obama.

Reason 4: President Obama is using is his audacity of hope approach.  He is staying hopeful, using optimism and reminding us all that we’ve been in this situation before and came out stronger on the other end.

If you are a business owner or a leader in any position, I would recommend that you begin studying why Obama won and how he is continuing to be popular with the public.  I am certain you will gain a few insights into how to apply his skills in the direction of your own leadership.

Here is his speech from last night to Congress.  Watch this and see what you can learn.

The innovation issue is certainly pressing. As our world’s financial resources become more and more scarce, business, corporate and political leaders are coming together to come up with the most creative ideas they can possibly think of to bring us back to center.

This post will give you a few strategies to move you in the direction of building a true innovation culture:

1) Make innovation so common that it becomes a part of your DNA. Innovation should not be reactionary. It should be given daily attention and should be embedded deeply into the DNA of your culture. Encourage the creative spark in your employees by using games, open dialogue and large white boards for posting ideas as they spontaneously pop up throughout the day.

2) Design innovation pods for your organization. To “assign” innovation to a committee at the top of your company is an old-school approach to innovation. Believe it or not, some of your most creative thinkers are probably on the front line or somewhere in the middle of your organization. By developing innovation pods or hubs throughout all departments, you will be able to capture a plethora of ideas from a wide variety of creative thinkers.

3) Get outside of your organization to “shop” for ideas. If you are physically sitting inside your office, you are missing the guts of innovation, and chances are pretty good that you’re stuck in the “way you’ve always done things”, which is a sure way to kill the innovation process. Take a few days and just walk the city, talk to people on the streets, walk through shops and art galleries, dine in new restaurants, listen to new music and let the environment do its magic on you.

4) Once you identify your big innovators, assign them a mentor who is a more experienced innovator. As with all organizations, as you begin to develop a culture of innovation, you will notice that some employees are just born to innovate. Once you have identified your superstar creative thinkers, assign them a coach or mentor (preferably someone who has been through the innovation process multiple times) to guide them through the process. It is not uncommon for creative thinkers to doubt their ideas, and they will need support through the process.

5) Reward ideas…no matter how crazy they may seem. The people of your company need to be recognized and acknowledged for contributing to the innovation process. Reward all ideas, both small and large, sane and insane.

EDGE! A Leadership Story 

I have been reading The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, and I want to read you 3 paragraphs from the book on the topic of Immutable Laws. This is just a teeny tiny sliver of the great information in a book that I believe all business owners need given what is going on in our world today.

 

 Immutable Laws [6:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Amelia Brazell is CEO of Strategy Source, Inc., a coaching and training company designed to arm entrepreneurial CEOs with principle-centered strategies for building businesses that have at their core inspiration, passion and expertise.

As “Your Expert Maker”, Amelia strategically transforms entrepreneurs into ExpertPreneurs by turning their intellectual property and expertise into income.

Widely recognized as a leading authority in expertise-driven marketing and media, she is known for her creative approach to bridging offline and online strategies.

Throughout a 24-year, award-winning corporate career, Amelia had the opportunity to personally consult with and work within many Fortune 500 companies and not-for-profit organizations including: Busch Entertainment Corp., San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Busch Gardens, Six Flags, Delta Queen Steamboat Company, Ralston Purina, McDonald’s, Monsanto and Fleishman-Hillard.

In addition to serving as a corporate media spokesperson, she has trained more than 300 expert spokespersons to appear on some of the world’s largest media outlets including Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News and BBC. She also has been instrumental in development of several TV series and hour-long specials for PBS’s Nature, Animal Planet Discovery Network and ABC Network.

Today, she has refined the processes she used with major corporations into systems for ExpertPreneurial CEOs.

 

 Amelia Brazell [65:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Radical innovation is going to be a critical component in a leader’s toolkit in the future, and this does not mean that you “try to innovate” over a week-end brainstorming retreat. True innovation happens by disrupting the current environment, challenging old assumptions and even turning the culture upside down so that you can take a creative idea, turn it into a product or service and successfully move it to the marketplace.Each day I meet business leaders, and one of the first questions I ask is “On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being super sticky, how stuck are you?” Most people laugh, and they usually respond by saying “I’m a 20 or a 25!” So, when you are stuck, you have to break up the pattern . . . turn a table upside down and figure out a way to still use the table as an eating surface, roll out of bed on the other side, shave with the hand you don’t normally use . . . do something to be disruptive. This is the same for companies. What would happen if you do the opposite of what you’ve always done? What would you do if you totally destroyed your most profitable item and had to start from scratch? Or, how would an artist, physician or scientist suggest that you change your products or services?

When I coach business leaders on the topic of innovation, we usually start with the following questions.

What have you done in the last year to get engaged with your imagination and the imagination of others?

Being stuck in a rut won’t get you very far when it comes to innovation. Get out there and get your brain turbo-charged with creativity. Art houses, skateboarding events, movies, food, music and travel can serve as catalysts to get you thinking more creatively.

What is the pain being experienced in the marketplace?

People usually buy to address a pain or to solve a problem. Don’t assume you know what pains people are feeling. Ask your clients and perform as many interviews and surveys as possible to discover repeating patterns of struggle.

What are people searching for online?

By using a keyword suggestion tool such as http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com, you can discover current, relevant and popular keywords which can help you consider where to go next in the marketplace. If people are searching for it, that means they will most probably buy it.

What tasks can be achieved more efficiently and effectively in business?

Business leaders are constantly asking “What can we do now to improve our efficiency and be more productive right now?” If your product or service can help answer this question through your next product or service, you can help fill the productivity void.

If you were to take your business and merge it with a business that is completely different than your own, what products and services would emerge?

If you are a financial consultant, and you merge your business with a physician, what products or services would you develop? If you are an ice cream shop owner, and you married your business with a law firm, what products and services would you design? While these questions may seem far-fetched, they can stretch your mind into new territory and right into a new idea for your business.

What are the political pundits arguing about?

You only need to turn on CNN or Fox News for one hour a day to learn what the big debates are around the world. Debate creates a craving for a solution, and your next big idea might just be the answer to the current great debate.

What seems to be constantly breaking, and how can you fix it?

People are sick and tired of complexity and things not working. Broken technology gets in our way and sucks up our energy, time and resources. People will buy a new product or service that if they know it’s going to work and if their buying experience is hassle free.

Who are the most creative people you know?

When great minds mix together, the perfect innovation storm happens. Look closely at your network, and bring together the smartest, most wildly creative people you know for a few hours of fun discussion about the next big, cool opportunity.

If you could change the world with the resources you have in your life (including people, knowledge, money and time), what product or service would you develop?

This is a question that most people hedge on by saying “Well, my resources are really limited.” That is just ridiculous. Some of the best ideas have been born by people with no money, sitting in a garage with a friend and a $300.00 Best Buy computer. Sit down with a few friends, and answer this question and by all means, don’t censor yourself. Every idea is fodder for discussion.

Who is going out of business and why?

Doors to businesses are closing right and left, and the question is “Why?” Something obviously went wrong, or plans were changed, or something in the global economy is going awry. Get out there and find out what shifts are happening in business. Your next product or service may just help business owners keep their doors open.

If you like these questions, I encourage you to join us for our upcoming teleclass in July:  The Future of Business from the Minds of Ten Top Professionals.