A renewed focus on "design thinking" as central to Business Leadership

During the last three decades I have made my career as an owner operator of an organization that provides strategic design centric services in the marketing and communications field. My passion for design was crystallized during college years in the early 1980’s; at that time I entered a diploma level college design program in Kingston Ontario Canada. Validating the role of the designer has been a critical aspect of my thinking throughout my career.

The ideas that design contributes to understanding and making information meaningful or accessible has been central to me and in turn my organization’s approach. We have integrated this philosophy into the solutions we develop in support of our client’s aspirations, goals and objectives. The central function design plays has also been a core focus relating to competitive advantage and how investment in design can differentiate the organization’s offering and drive new opportunities and awareness.

During the early eighties I was employed as an intern at small boutique studios and consultancies.

As an advocate of design I was naturally led into the marketing and sales activities in the interest of the organizations where I was employed. This experience provided me a grasp of all functions of the design studio from frontline sales cycles activities across the value chain to creation of product and delivery of innovative solutions to clients. The experience garnered from the internship during the first years within the workforce combined with the three-year college diploma provided the foundation for me to found my organization.

I have managed that for twenty-three years starting from a two-person organization and growing the business into a fifty-person leading multi disciplinary enterprise. During the course of operating my organization I have been brought under engagement with Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples. We have developed designed products for public and private sector accounts. Our clients the James Bay Northern Quebec Crees have turned to my organization for over two decades in support of the development of their communications and outreach programs.

Design has been an integral activity in support of their communications and now representative of their unique brand. The Aboriginal clients where we‘ve had the benefit of partnering have mandated my organization for communications and outreach activities. They have granted my team access to a rich and vibrant culture in Canada’s north. By extension I have been immersed in unique circumstances including educational programs, public relations, documenting history, referendum fulfillment, storytelling of legends, Sweat Lodge rituals, festivals among multi generational family members and many other experiences.

These relationships afforded me tremendous privilege and perspective on ancient civilization that has emerged in Canada and how that civilization has transformed as a modern society. 

Current trends in design an innovation have led to a renewed focus on design thinking as central to business leadership and global competitiveness. Leadership in growth companies recognize that design is central to organizational dynamic and a core factor contributing to areas such as sustainable development programs, corporate responsibility, planning and prototyping, organizational structure and other  functions of business.

Design thinking is used to determine new and innovative systems that drive opportunities and contribute to differentiating organizations. An argument exists that organizations today are forced to move away from reliability factors such as scientific analysis and traditional business systems to more intuitive factors. Right brain analysis and creativity need be embraced to address the challenges organizations face and to the extent leadership is tasked with overcoming these challenges they need to embrace design thinking as a central approach to achieving their goal.

Aboriginal Culture in many parts of the world remain under threat of extinction this is validated by encroachment on their territories, aging populations with elders passing on along with their languages, knowledge and legends, impacts from modern society engulfing and extinguishing traditions and values. These societies have been marginalized by their nation states and for centuries oppressed or overrun, their lands have had natural resources extracted, clear cut or harvested beyond recovery.

My motivation for study is to embrace design thinking in support of the preservation of indigenous culture. I hope to contribute to asserting change in support of preservation of Canadian Aboriginal Culture or other cultures in different parts of the globe. This will require an understanding of the complexity of the problem in a more holistic framework. Understanding will contribute to inventive designed solutions that will perhaps support capturing elements of cultures that otherwise will be lost..

From my practical experience in business management and organizational dynamic I believe I can enrich my experience and deliver solutions more broadly. I will achieve this either in advocacy or practicing in the field. I believe a commitment to research and investment in understanding and knowledge on this subject is priority. At this stage in my career and life this is my desire for learning.

Lac Mistassini James Bay Northern Quebec

Acres of Diamonds

Someone I’ve not met in person who resides in the United States is the subject of this post. The individual's name is Joseph Skursky and I was fortunate to come into contact with Joseph using the popular social utility LinkedIN. 

Joseph through his networking has made connections in my part of the world here in Ottawa Canada. I’m not clear how the initial link I made with him started but that resulted in Joseph becoming part of my network. I'm fortunate however circumstances made that happen. Subsequently we got into a telephone conversation about his business associates. Associates specifically located in the city where I happen to be operating my organization.

My thought process goes as follows.

1. Geographic location is not a barrier today when forming your network. (This is fairly obvious but when people like Joseph call you up you appreciate the potential today for working at a distance ) 
2. I admit my skepticism puts a great deal of repellent effort toward those who we have limited background on or who may be calling in without having some prior knowledge of what they're offering or other references.
3. The profile about Joseph was quite impressive including his extensive connections.
4. My curiosity drove me to take his call and determine what potential opportunities may unfold.

OUTCOME

Joseph introduced me to people in Ottawa who are now playing a central role in what is expansion in the broadcast and digitization media space. His tactful counsel and introduction to some very insightful experts has opened opportunity to my organization and those whom we have been introduced. More importantly the introduction will result in an upside for our clients as a result of Joseph initiating a new partnership and collaborative forum. The collaboration will drive value to the clients in support of their specific aspirations and intentions to communicate to their audiences.

The idea around Earl Nightingales “Acres of Diamonds” couldn’t be more apt to describe the connections you have within the Social Utilities you build today. One has to be proactive and take or make the call to enjoy the good things from introductions online

A final note: I have Joseph’s Blog linked here “Keys 2 Business Growth” this is the highest ranking entry point of traffic to my blog. This illuminates the importance of establishing allies in the blogosphere who value and compliment your specific interests. THANKS JOSEPH!

Cross promote locally or internationally a great way to start the day.

I welcome your links and your comments. Have a great weekend!

Five Steps to getting your Brand revitalized

1. Form a team within the organization. The team must have direct access to the CEO. Having objective third party partners on the team ensures an honest approach to brand building. We have formed brand counsels including key contributors on larger enterprise brand development assignments.

2. The team’s first task will involve making guidelines that set criteria. This step begins by defining the core constructs today of what your organization is, or aspires to become in the months ahead. You’ll need to facilitate sessions that involve inputs from stakeholders and others who can provide you genuine honest observations about the nature of your organization. Competencies for setting criteria that belong on your team include two skills. a.)You require someone with strong research and analytical skills. b.)You require brilliant creative writing, specifically writing with a strong business/design thinking bent.    

                                    

3. Develop the story make it persuasive. Use carefully chosen words and establish an identity framework. The intent here is to create with words a foundation or “vessel” that can be used to properly sustain your organizations brand. Your team will eventually launch this upon the organization as a whole and beyond to your external market channels. The story “vessel” once crafted can be fitted with visual treatments including word marks, symbol design or other visual language. Design competency today is a minimum imperative for organization's serious about brand management.

4. Take the new identity to market. Launch into a sustained outreach campaign. Assess what response the new brand triggers. Judge the robust nature of your new identity's impact on various communities of interest. The organization will have to establish a plan on sustaining the brand through both paid media and investment in business media online. Brand Management involves a concerted effort to ensure the organization brand remains vital and engaged. This step includes opportunities to extend into your unique stratospheres of influence. Choose what those areas of influence are and pursue them leveraging innovation and design thinking. Social media is an obvious opportunity, trade fairs, networking opportunities, internal functions among the organizations staff. This step is only limited by the organizations budget allocation for brand building and perhaps the lack of willingness to take risk trying new techniques.                               

                                         

5. Analytics and measurement along the way will ensure a degree of reliability about the new brand's position in the market. Surveys, conversations with clients and a myriad of useful tools and tactics exist that will assist you building the brand's presence in the market. Course corrections may be required while you’re underway. Auditing the brand's impact at different touch points will provide an understanding of the organization's investment. Make a corporate commitment to measurement. Focus on how your identity is yielding response's and increasing brand equity. These activities will indicate you're on the proper course. Proactive measurement is essential while navigating toward your organization’s goals for growth and prosperity

Living Architecture

Living Architecture