Can extraordinary innovation happen in ordinary organizations? Yes, if you know how.

In his latest book, Simply Brilliant: How Great Organizations Do Ordinary Things in Extraordinary Ways, Bill Taylor shines a spotlight on innovation in organizations such as banks, fast-food joints, and nonprofits. And he shares how they do it.

Co-founder of Fast Company and bestselling author of the books, Practically Radical and Mavericks at Work, Bill has written for the NYTimes, the Guardian, and Harvard Business Review, and he blogs regularly for HBR. In this interview, he talks about:

How Silicon Valley companies make up less than 10 percent of businesses
How having a compelling lighthouse identity helps ordinary organizations stand out
The 4 key elements of a lighthouse identity
What it looks like when innovation meets the ordinary world of banking
The fact that we want to do business with companies and brands that are fun
Why being ordinary is not an option for every day organizations
How an investor seeks out missionary over mercenary businesses
The role teaching and psychology play in a fast-food standout
What happens when leaders read and discuss books together
Why an every day company requires its leaders to teach
What it looks like when company expansion is driven by employee growth
How big and rapid growth can decrease what makes a young organization so special
The incredible role thought leadership plays in extraordinary organizations
What Bill learned by spending a training day with employees from Quicken Loans
How being bold, exciting and compelling in the marketplace requires we be that way in the workplace
How the most successful organizations prioritize ideas and people
Steps experts can take to see their work with fresh eyes
What jazz can teach leaders about provocative competence
What it takes to find our next ideas and why that is more important than ever
How a wildly successful company prioritized learning to get unstuck
Needing to ask: When is the last time you did something for the first time?
Why we need to spend less time being interesting and more time being interested
How being interested is about seeking out big ideas and small sources of inspiration
Needing to ask: Am I learning as fast as the world is changing?
Why the future is shaped by tough-minded optimists
The importance of asking how to help more people benefit from the wealth of the few

Episode Links

@williamctaylor

https://williamctaylor.com/

Metro Banks

Willy Wonka

CM 072: Bill Taylor on Innovation in Everyday Organizations

Curious Minds at Work