Creating a Culture of Innovation…Yes, You Really Can!PRESENTED BY LYDIA HENRY, VICE PRESIDENT STRATEGY/HUMAN RESOURCES

AgendaA. Where we’re going for the next hour

B. Is there value in a creative culture/mindset?

C. What about “employee engagement”?

D. Do the two relate?

E. Where to from here? You decide…

Of course, “creative” is what we do…

Electric Forest Music Festival, 2015

Avenged Sevenfold “Death Bat”

NFL Kickoff, 2015

But what’s the value of a creative culture?

A. Produce innovative services for clients, both internal and external

B. Leads to employee satisfaction

C. Increases collaboration

D. More effective problem-solving and an intent focus on exploring opportunities

Elements of a creative culture

A. Physical things you can see/experience

B. Values that are reinforced publicly

C. Basic assumptions that everyone shares

What is “employee engagement”?

A. “Not waiting for someone else to tell me to fix something.” Aaron Brubaker, Lead Welder

B. “Caring about what I do, and how it adds to what everyone else is doing here at ATOMIC.” Ian Gantz, Logistics Manager

C. “Fully absorbed by and enthusiastic about their work. Taking positive action to further the organization’s reputation and interests. Secure in the knowledge that there is a partnership between them and the organization. Productive and happy.” Lydia Henry, VP, Strategy/HR

Creating Employee EngagementA. Understanding what employees are thinking (how we do it: Book Club, focus groups,

frequent discussion…very little surveying)

B. Intentional culture building

C. Sincere appreciation for contribution (on the lookout for “doing good”; uber-specific)

D. Open/honest communication (hardest nut to crack, continual work in progress)

E. Career/personal development (personal goals, movement through company, lack of focus on retention, focus on partnership)

F. Storytelling about the work we do (attract the right people)

G. Engaging socially…on their terms (running club, break activities, Fun Club, ping pong, passion/play sustains engagement)

Not ATOMIC driven…employee driven

Bike Club

Running ClubPassion Project: Providing aid in Nepal

Competition is our culture…

Yep, competition is where it’s at for us…

Relationship between creative and engagement

A creative culture encourages engaged employees

Shaping the future!

Amazing what people can do…

Chair Design Contest

And then there’s just silly…

Egg Nog Contest, 2014Photo Booth Craziness

Ways to start and reinforceA. Create your own definition of creativity and/or innovationB. Assess and then further develop your culture based on what you findC. Managers/leadership must demonstrably participate and supportD. Develop process to move ideas forwardE. Speed is paramountF. Act “small”…limited bureaucracyG. Facilitate opportunities to share ideas, collaborateH. Link performance reviewsI. Appreciate/reward ideasJ. Allow for risk/mistakesK. Incorporate into interviews…”tell me about something you’ve invented.”

Thoughts, comments, questions?