A recent episode of the “Better Homes and Gardens” lifestyle show featured a story on the world’s biggest garden show at Hampton Court in England. Whilst there were lots of interesting aspects to the report, the one that caught my eye was a piece on upside down planter pots. They can be hung from the ceiling and plants cascade down from them a bit like light fittings. Very innovative.

At the same time I am in the middle of reading a book that is all about an innovative way to run an organisation. “Why work sucks and how to fix it” by Cali Ressler and Jodi Thompson describes their concept of the “Results Only Work Enviroment” or ROWE. No time keeping, no dress codes, no micromanging and yet their numerous case studies show they get results. The authors want to challenge leaders to run organisations differently. Another book with a similar theme I’ve recently read is “Drive” by Daniel Pink that questions the use of outdated Motivation 2.0 techniques that rely on extrinsic rewards and punishments. Instead of patching up the old system we should be moving to the newer, Motivation 3.0 program that focus on intrinsic rewards that appeal to our need to make a difference.

So what are you doing to think differently about leading your team or are you stuck in a rut, playing around with the old way hoping you can somehow make it better? What’s your equivalent of the upside down pot?

Tags: Change management, employee engagement, Employee morale, engagement, Innovation in leadership, Karen Schmidt, www.letsgrow.com.au