casedrinnovation
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Dancing on the Edge: Pushing the Limits of Innovation in Your
Program
Lynne M. Wester
Yeshiva University
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Road Map to the Edge:
• Innovation’s Meaning and Importance
• Aspects of Innovation
• Steps for Success
• Don’t be Afraid
• How Does Innovation apply to Donor Relations
• Key Take Aways
What does Innovation mean to me?
• "Innovation is the only sustainable competitive advantage" says Philip Kotler
• We innovate not for the sake of being different but because it challenges us to move forward and shed the old guards of the past while challenging conventional wisdom.
• We’ve always done it that way is no longer acceptable!
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4 Aspects of Innovation
• innovation driver
• innovation strategy
• innovation implementation
• Assessment
• Good Ideas that Work!
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Making it Possible
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Salient Points
• More than just an idea
• Communication and strategy
• Creativity + Implementation = Innovation
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Steps For Success
• In the event the implementation does not go to plan, what is your escape plan?
• Risk vs Benefit Analysis– Sounds fancy huh?– Stumbling Blocks– People and Cheerleaders– What milestones should there be in the
development of this idea?
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Fear is innovation's mortal enemy
• Ego – I won’t support an idea that I didn’t come up with.
• Politics – We will look bad since this is our area of responsibility.
• Security — I’ve worked hard to get where I’m at and this is risky. I could loose everything.
• Success/Change – We are doing great with what we have. Why would we want to change?
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How to Lessen Fear:
• Follow the law of feedback: This states there is no failure, only feedback. Successful people look at failure as an "event," an opportunity to embrace learning in the process of success.
• Encourage and reward autonomy: Honor ideas that challenge accepted norms and objectives.
• Support creative experiments: Encourage all brainstorming and input that serves the mission of the organization.
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Failure = F+
• Failure is inevitable and Should be Celebrated!
• The ROI of ROF• Scott Cook's advice - "for every failure
we had we had spreadsheets that looked awesome."
• Will people really die if you reformat the way you send out an email?
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Innovation and Donor Relations
• Is there a better way to do this?
• What are some ways that we can better serve our donors?
• What is someone else doing that we’re not?
• Is there an app for that?
• Making Innovation a Priority
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Ideas to Inspire
• Endowment Reports
• Event Printing
• Engaging Young Alumni
• Reaching Your Students
• Digital Communications
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Questions? Comments?
• Lynne Wester
• www.donorrelationsguru.com
• Friend me on Facebook
• Follow me on Twitter @donorguru
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