transforming your projects into wow! projects

Transforming Your Projects into WOW! Projects

Thank you for your interest in

WOW! Projects and in using these slides.

Please use them to transform your work!

All we ask is that you quote us, and if you have any questions about how to use them you contact us:

julieanixter@tompeters.com

or

roncrossland@tompeters.com

Julie AnixterNew Business, Media Maven, Rolodex Queen

Ron CrosslandVice Chair, Borrowed Mule

Technological Revolution

New Economic Promise

Sociological Revolution

Five Transformations

Departments Departments to Professional Services Firms Professional Services Firms

Managers Managers to Leaders at all Levels Leaders at all Levels

Customer Service Customer Service to Customer Experience Customer Experience

Work assignments Work assignments to WOW!Projects WOW!Projects

Employees Employees to Brand YOU Professionals Brand YOU Professionals

WOW!Projects

InnovationBlockers

POLL #1: Which of these in your opinion is the most serious blocker to innovation?

Individual Self Confidence

Technological Constraints

Competitive Pressure

The boss

Time

Lack of Creativity

Money

The “Boss”

Time/Money

Self-Confidence

Source: tpc! research

Time lines

Budgets

Processes

Features

Benefits

Project Management

Beautiful

Buzz

Cool

Memorable/Legendary

Revolutionary Impact

WOW!Projects

Characteristics of the “Also Rans”

Source: Fortune on “Most Admired Global Corporations” (10/26/98)

• Minimize risk

• Respect the chain of command

• Support the boss

• Make budget

Highly Innovative Companies

TrustDiversity

Willingness to take risks/challenge

their status quo.

Balance of authority.

Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 5 year study/Financial Times 1000

“Where do good new ideas come from? That’s simple! From differences.

Creativity comes from unlikely juxtapositions. The best way to maximize differences is to mix ages, cultures and disciplines.”Nicholas Negroponte

71%

“It’s not cool people that create cool projects. Cool

projects brings out individuals’ genius.”

Michael Schrage, personal interview

A WOW!Project … WOWS. [Period.]

A WOW!Project … is a project that gets results, extraordinary results.

A WOW!Project …is a dynamic stimulating, a major bond builder with co workers, a source of buzz among end users, and . . . Inspiring, exhausting, hot , cool , sexy , where everyone else wants to be.

A WOW!Project … confronts - head-on! - and redefines an important issue or problem in such a way that participants [pirates?] will remembered for it ten years later . [“I was on Apple’ s original Mac team.”]

A WOW!Project … moves in record-time fast … is considered startling success even by early detractors … makes QuickPrototyping its mantra … and thumbs its nose at all things bureaucratic.

A WOW!Project … is the quintessential expression of personality and character It is not for the faint-of-heart.

A WOW!Project … starts with you.

We believe that all projects can be WOW!Projects.

WO

W!P

roje

cts

WOW!Projects Methodology

• Create/Find

• Sell

• Execute

• Celebrate/Next….

Typical

10%

0%

90%

0%

WOW!

30%

30%

30%

10%

Find/Create

CASE : Susan Nobler: “We

(Lenscrafter) will be the

best at helping the

world to see by giving the

gift of sight to those who

have the least and need us

the most.”

Forget>“Learn”

“The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts

into your mind, but how to get the old ones out.”Dee Hock

Innovation =

Source: Doug Hall, Eureka! Ranch

Stimulus XWhole BrainThinking

Fear2

“Every project we take on starts with a question: How can we do what’s never been done before?”Stuart Hornery, CEO, Lend Lease

“Every project we take on starts with a question: How can we do what’s never been done before?”Stuart Hornery, CEO, Lend Lease

Reframers’ Rules:Rule 1: Never accept an assignment as given!Rule 2: You’re never so powerful as when you are “powerless”!Rule 3: Every “small” project contains the entire enterprise DNA!

Create Tips• Don’t embark until you are satisfied

it can be WOW!

• Don’t accept any assignment as a given.

• Find Freaks in the early stages.

• Learn how to prototype, how to brainstorm….really.

Sell

POLL#2: What Does Harley Davidson Sell?

1. Rebel Image2. Top Quality Bikes3. Expression of Personal Freedom4. Membership in a Cult5. Classic American Hobby6. Fantasy

“What we sell is the ability for a 43-year-old accountant to dress in black leather, ride through small towns and have people be afraid of him.”Harley exec, quoted in Results-based Leadership

John Christiansen, Charthouse Learning

“We really want to work with you”

The SEGWAY Goes on a Base Tour                                                                                                                                                               

•Co-locate SEGWAY with our project launch•Provide a real user’s tool•Link team’s project with innovation•Make the visit memorable

Idealized Opportunity

Tangible benefits

Reason to believe

Selling Products

None 10%

Compelling Tone 18%

Reason To Believe 29%

Source: Eureka! Institute

Benefit Only 29%

}30%

}42%

Strategic Purpose and Risk

BenefitReason To

Believe

New &

Different

Probability

Of Success

Medium Medium

Medium Medium

Medium Medium

Low

Medium

High

15%

40%

53%

Source: Eureka! Institute

How Many Sponsors?Executives, Supervisors, Customers,

Neighbors, Union Stewards, Customers, Politicians, Investors,

Suppliers, External Experts, Customers, Competitors, Family

Members, Media, Trade and Professional Associations,

Customers, and Anyoneelsewhowilllisten!

Become a protagonistfor something enormous,

compelling, timeless and real.

Scott Bedbury

Sell Tips• Hone your elevator pitch.

• Every team member should be able to sell.

• Expand your sponsor’s list.

• Co-create with your sponsors, stakeholders.

• Find memorable ways to make an impact

Execute

“Good prototypes have ‘charisma.’ They create narratives … tell stories.”Michael Schrage, Serious Play

From “Show & Tell”

to “Show & Listen”

“I strongly believe that prototypes and products are intimately

related, that the number prototypes and quality of those

prototypes are directly proportional to the ultimate quality of

the product.”

David Kelley, IDEO

Prototyping Culture

“Effective prototyping may be the most valuable core competence an innovative organization can hope to have.”

Michael Schrage, Serious Play

Prototypers’ LAWS

Define a small, practical test of something on one page or less of text. Now.

Gather “found” materials … on the [very] cheap.

Find a/one partner-“customer” who’ll provide a test site.

Set a very tight deadline of about 5 days for the next concrete step.

Conduct the test! Debrief A.S.A.P.

Set the next test date. Now. Soon.

Create a force field.

Patrick Meyer & Robin Austin

Execution Tips

• Fast 2D or 3D - best in first 72 hours.

• Show it to as many as possible.

• Use in conjunction with 3-minute pitch.

• Show it to as many as possible.

Celebrate/Next

“You can ‘smell’ caring [engagement, respect] from a mile away!”

Seminar Participant, London (12/99)

The Stats

• 37% receive ANY recognition for a job well done

• 44% NEVER get recognized

• Less than 50% of MANAGERS give recognition for high performance

From study by Kepner-Tregoe

“People value being appreciated for their contributions. Recognition does not have to be elaborate, just genuine.”

Alfonso Rivera, Engineering Consultant

Linda Wolf, CEO, Leo Burnett Worldwide

Walking Flying in Your Customers Shoes

Celebrate Tips

• Set a high standard.

• Find people doing things right - recognize every 7 days.

• Be creative / personal.

• Make recognition public - tell the story.

J. J. Jones

1946 – 2002

WOULDA DONE SOME

REALLY COOL STUFF

BUT…THE BOSS WOULDN’T

LET HIM.

POLL #3: Of the four areas of WOW! Projects, where’s the greatest leverage for you?

1. Create2. Sell3. Implement4. Create/Next

Stay tuned:Upcoming tompeterscompany! seminars on PlacewareFebruary 5 The Leader's Voice…Ron Crossland/BoydClarke

March 15 Brand Inside/Brand Outside…Julie Anixter/Valarie Willis

April 26th Leading in Screwed Up Times…John Harris/Hugh Blane

May 1 WOW! Projects…Bob McConkey/LJ Rose

June 6 Brand Inside/Brand Outside…JulieAnixter/Valarie Willis

All at are Noon est. For more info www.tompeters.com