Why “Thinking Outside the Box” is Misunderstood

The Role of Constraint and Creativity in Business Innovation “Think outside the box.” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard, and it’s become a bit of a cliché in the business world. It’s often interpreted as a call to throw out all the rules and let your imagination run wild. But is that really the best …

Intentional Improvement Cultures

How events and event professionals can lead change “Our entire world is moving at breakneck speed!” – anyone paying attention. It feels like we are constantly experiencing ecological, political, social, and, most apparent, economic changes. All these impact business strategy and are felt strongly by those in business events in particular. Integrating Design Thinking and …

Malicious Compliance

When a “Sure Boss” becomes a silent killer of innovation Ah, malicious compliance. It’s a term that might sound like an oxymoron, but it’s a real phenomenon that can have severe implications for business innovation. But before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what malicious compliance …

The Art of Discussing Innovation

It’s All About Knowing the Audience Innovation is the lifeblood of any thriving business. But it’s not just about having brilliant ideas. It’s about how we communicate these ideas and, crucially, with whom we communicate. Let’s be honest. How you discuss innovation with your company’s leadership should differ from how you converse with the team …

The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon

I swear I keep seeing this cognitive illusion everywhere. Have you ever encountered a new piece of information, perhaps a word you’ve never heard or a concept you’ve just learned about, and then suddenly started noticing it everywhere? Or perhaps you played the game “punch bug”, also known as “slug bug” or “punch buggy”, which …

Beautiful Questions Clarify Purpose

Excerpt from Intentional Event Design, Our Professional Opportunity The Importance of Questions “This cannot be overstated. Great design requires great understanding. This requires moving past assumptions and working from a place of true knowledge. Don’t just ask the obvious questions – demographic and psychographic information as examples of this. Ask “beautiful questions” – those with …

Sunk Cost Fallacy

Maybe it’s a good idea to stop while you’re behind. The Sunk Cost Fallacy is a psychological phenomenon where individuals continue investing in a decision based on prior investments (time, money, or effort), rather than evaluating the current situation and future benefits. This fallacy can significantly impact decision-making in both personal and professional contexts. The …