Page 198 - Free the Idea Monkey

So being innovation focused naturally attracts Alphas, and this

in turn drives a better culture. Here’s why: successful innovation is

intrinsically meaningful. Said differently, you have to be solving a

significant need in order to have success with a new product or ser-

vice. The best and happiest employees want to work on something

meaningful. So they naturally gravitate toward innovation assign-

ments. It is not only more fun but also has a greater potential for

personal payoff. The sustainability innovation megatrend makes

this point even more valid.

Innovation is typically on the radar of the CEO. If you want to be

in the spotlight, take on a major innovation initiative. It will bring

RE NATURALLY out the best in you as an employee and get
you immediately recognized and rewarded
for performance. Ironically, we’ve seen
IDEA MONKEYS A ENTREPRENEURIAL
. people aggressively rewarded whether
So it is no surprise that
when you piss off a their particular project was a market
Monkey, they are just success or not. It was the act of “tak-

as likely to use their ing on the important stuff” that got

ideas to start their them extra credit from on high.

own business Back to that Alpha who left your team.
as they are In hindsight, what would you have done
to help

yours. to keep her happy? Chances are you would

eagerly put her on your most heady, rewarding

challenges. Think about what would happen if

you had a project like that for every Alpha in the

organization. The result would be a magnetic culture that attracts

and retains the best people. It would be the Alpha Effect. Instead,

too often we ask our best people to handle our most difficult clients,

or profitable, but uninspiring projects. That leads to an unfortunate

exodus of talented people.

Change the way you treat your Alphas

and you will hang on to more of them. I

guarantee it.

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