People working in the heart of the businessare often the ones closest to the problem.  Asking them for their ideas can have a huge, positive impact.

Not just from the ideas themselves – leading to new products, services, markets and profits – but from the respect and feeling of value that comes from asking your staff for ideas.

Asking for ideas is inviting and inclusive – it grows working relationships.

Here are a few examples where those ideas have made a difference…. 

Fitness Centre

• Problem:  Receptionists dealing with phone enquiries while gym-members are held up, waiting to gain entry to the gym

• Ideas offered: “Install an automatic card entry system” and “Get a customer service coach”

• Idea unleashed:  Experienced, well-liked staff member starts working alongside reception staff as customer service coach

Furniture Maker

• Problem: Shrinking market for the type of furniture produced

• Idea offered: “Make furniture as components for DIY packs for the Japanese DIY market”

• Idea unleashed: Furniture components made into DIY packs,  entry organised for upcoming Tokyo DIY Homecentre Trade Fair

School

• Problem: Teachers not visiting staffroom for morning tea, getting ‘out of the loop’, missing necessary information on school activities etc

• Idea offered: “Get an espresso machine”

• Idea unleashed: Teachers pitch in to buy espresso machine, great coffee attracts better attendance at morning tea

Factory

• Problem: Factory floor crammed with heavy machines purchased over many years, getting harder to operate efficiently

• Ideas offered: “Extend factory space” and “Take all machines out of factory then reinstall in configuration for more efficient work flow”

• Idea unleashed: A weekend set aside for heavy shifting, machines repositioned, problem solved