Lynda’s New Year Message:
While recessions inevitably bring a significant amount of hardship, those of us who are old enough to have lived through a couple of them already have experienced first-hand that there are also good sides to times of economic trouble.
The biggest benefit is that difficult times create a need - and indeed an opportunity - for change. We find new ways of dealing with our challenges, and this applies to work-related matters as well.
I predict that our way of getting together and working on projects will become more virtual – driven by slashed travel budgets. Over and above the cost saving, this will have huge positive implications such as time saved, reduced stress for staff on the road, and increased collaboration across the globe with people discovering the joys of collaborative efforts...
So the need for productive and innovative teams will increase to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. This is why organisations will want to learn how to create, coach and nurture sustainable Hot Spots.
My New Year’s message to you is to make sure you use the current challenging economic environment to improve your practices and processes at work. Channel the wonderful energy and talent that sits in different pockets around your organisation by sparking Hot Spots; this will help your organisation to come out of the recession stronger than ever!
If you want to read more about how recessions have an impact on organisations, click here to read Lynda’s recent comment piece in the Financial Times.
Exploring Hot Spots in Asia: Full Steam Ahead
Over the past few months, the Hot Spots Research Institute has partnered with the Singaporean Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and local companies to explore best practices in innovation management in Asia.
The initiative is now running at full speed, and in November Lynda and Andreas were on site to run sessions for teams from MOM, Shell, SMRT, and Keppel. The participating teams are finding the benchmarking with the Hot Spots Teams in Context Profile very helpful in learning more about their assets and development needs. There is also lots of excitement about the 60-day Learning Journey as a virtual and action-based learning programme that boosts productivity and the ability to innovate.
To ensure we track how teams learn and develop successfully, we are creating a Learning Community with all the organisations involved. More companies such as Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore Airline Terminal Services, and BD Medical are about to embark on the programme now. In total 30 teams from 10 companies will participate in the project, which will make this the biggest Hot Spots research and training initiative in Asia.
If you have a business that has a Singapore office, and you are interested in learning more about how you can join the Learning Community and participate in this MOM-sponsored project, there are still a few remaining slots available. Please contact Andreas at andreas@hotspotsmovement.com for more details.
BREAKING NEWS
The Hot Spots Movement is launching another major initiative: we are planning to build a research consortium in Silicon Valley in 2009 and have already started discussions with interested companies. The project will apply our tools to companies in one of the major global innovation hubs.
By working with companies in this high-tech sector we hope to gain new insights into the conditions that allow Hot Spots to have a strong bottom-line impact in an adverse economic climate by translating innovation into tangible business results.
If you are interested in joining us, or know of somebody in California who might be interested, please contact Andreas at andreas@hotspotsmovement.com.
Share Your Hot Spots Story With Lynda
How have you benefited from learning about Hot Spots or applying the organisational tools? Has Hot Spots changed the way you work, the results of your team, or your perspective on your organisation?
Many people who have adopted the Hot Spots concept have shared their stories with Lynda, and in turn, we would like all Hot Spots Movement members to benefit from these workplace examples. What is your story? Send it to Lynda on lynda@hotspotsmovement.com and we will include it in the next Newsletter.
Progress report from Q4 2008:
The Hot Spots Movement is building momentum:
- We now have more than 1,500 newsletter subscribers.
- We have run two Hot Spot Programmes (click here for the next session) with about 50 attendees representing 12 organisations.
- We have new material (including videocasts) available on the Hot Spots Movement website – click here to check out the latest information available.
- Hot Spots - Why some teams, workplaces and organisations buzz with energy - and others don't has now been translated into Dutch, Estonian, Chinese, Spanish and Korean. Haven’t read it yet? Click here to order.
- Lynda and Hot Spots in the press: click here to read the latest coverage.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Why is it that some people radiate enthusiasm, positive energy and inspiration? They have an ability to foster a great working experience for themselves and everyone around them, and create empowering relationships – even in challenging situations. Were they simply born special, or can you become one of them? You will be able to find out in April...
Lynda’s new book, Glow, examines why some people become a source of energy and innovation. She homes in on how we can become a source of energy and innovation ourselves. Drawing on years of original research, Lynda identifies the three principles that guide people who Glow. If you can learn to Glow, you will add tremendous value to your organisation in a way that will make your work more satisfying and fulfilling.
You can learn to Glow, and in April you will be able to read how, when the book is launched around the world. We will be back with more about the book and the launch activities in the next edition of the Hot Spots Movement Newsletter.
And a warm thank you to the many of you who helped us choose the book cover – in true team style, we used the ‘wisdom of the crowds’ to select the cover, and if you click here, you can see the one you chose!
ACTION REQUIRED:
Book your places NOW at the next Hot Spots Programme in London on 28 and 29 April. As Lynda’s schedule is so busy, it is the only session scheduled for 2009 so far! Click here to download full details and booking form.
Where Lynda will be speaking about Hot Spots next:
Lynda will be speaking in Denmark, London, Egypt and South Africa in the next few months. See here for details.
|
