Recently on my radio program I had the opportunity to interview Laura Thrall, CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. She shared many great ideas and how United Way is meeting challenges in the current economy. I wanted to share one of the ways Laura creates a culture of innovation at United Way.

The “Weekly Mash-Up”

I asked Laura about leadership and how she inspires and engages her team. She talked about leading by example, how she’s willing to roll up her sleeves and how to foster a culture of creativity. I asked her for some concrete examples of empowering staff to be creative.

•  Chalking the Chicago sidewalks with Live United Chicago logo
• United Way coffee jet packs outside United Way corporate offices to serve staff as they arrive

• Use mind mapping to approach ideas, challenges, problem solving from a different point of view and using a visual diagram
• BBQ the “sacred cow” – What in your organization can’t be touched? Does it keep your organization from moving forward? Is it time to let it go? This can release a lot of energy and creativity.
• View a challenge through someone else’s point of view
• Use mind tiles to get ideas out and move them from creativity to innovation
• Engage in brainstorming: Remember – no idea is a bad idea, no comments – just a flow of ideas.

Practice creativity. Empower creativity. It will lead to innovation

Barbara Talisman is Vice President with The Pursuant Group, http://www.pursuant.net/ a full-service fundraising and marketing communications organization that serves non-profit clients across the entire donor pyramid. She can be reached at  Barbara.Talisman@pursuantgroup.com.