Global Workplace Success Blog with Pat Tith

Cultivate Innovation and Creativity from Your Workforce

You may think that this is an odd first posting to my new blog on today’s global workplace, but I feel it is very relevant to improving today’s workplace. Let’s see if you agree.

I have had to accept the fact that I was born to shop! I love to shop. This love of shopping became very clear to me recently as I was busily going through a department story checking out the new styles for the season. I love to shop at the beginning of each season; I love to see what’s new, where the imagination of fashion designers has taken them, and what I’ll be tempted to buy.

My love of shopping, however, is not limited to the latest fashions in the stores.
I love to shop for ideas and ways of doing things from all parts of the world as well. I get excited about a new idea or perspective on leadership, team building, or employee engagement, to name just a few of the concerns in the global workplace. How are other companies using a behavior or technique that I can pass on to my clients? I’m always on the lookout.

In today’s global workplace, there are no seasons like there are in the fashion world. The context is ever evolving, requiring managers to lead in a way they may never have expected they would have to. Therefore, it’s a good idea to learn to love shopping for new ideas and ways of doing things on a regular basis. This “shopping for ideas” is not bound by the seasons like the fashion industry is. New ideas help you meet the challenges of this globalized world we find ourselves working in. A new and critical management strategy is to always keep your eyes and ears open. This approach will start the process of innovation and creativity in your workplace.

Within a multicultural workforce there are employees from many different national cultures and life experiences. They have new ideas ready to be discovered and tapped and because they probably come from different perspectives, they will likely  have different ways of looking at situations.

Are you taking the time to engage your employees to see what ideas they may have, for example, to improve customer service, workplace productivity or effective team leadership? These ideas are right under your nose. 

I’d like to suggest that you develop a love of shopping… shopping for new ideas from your employees that will enhance your workplace on an ongoing basis. Make it a habit just I like make it a habit to check out the latest fashion styles and the latest workplace-effectiveness ideas.

Go shopping for ideas and be amazed at what you might discover.

By Patricia Zakian Tith | Posted on December 18th, 2007 | Posted in Working With China