The DNA of IDEA CHAMPIONS WORKSHOPS

THE DNA OF
IDEA CHAMPIONS WORKSHOPS

THE DNA OF IDEA CHAMPIONS’
www.ideachampions.com

IDEA CHAMPIONS’ workshops are highly
engaging, insight-invoking experiences
that provide participants with a unique
opportunity to make rapid progress on
pressing business challenges at
the same time they are learning
valuable tools and techniques
they can apply on the job to
raise the bar for innovation. The DNA of
each session is composed of eight
integrated elements. What follows is a
brief summary of these eight elements.

A lively mix of context setting, icebreakers, and presentations that
move people from a resistant
“innovation is not my job”
mindset to a receptive, “I
am a proactive agent of
innovation” mindset.

G.K. Chesterton once said, “It’s not that
they can’t see the solution, they can’t
see the problem.”
And so it is with many business people.
Tasked with tough challenges and huge
time constraints, they too often rush
into solution finding without framing the
best possible problem statements – a
phenomenon that guarantees nothing
but wheel-spinning and frustration.
Which is why, whenever possible, Idea
Champions’ sessions include a
groundbreaking module on the art and
science of framing the right questions.

Of all the obstacles to innovation, the
all-too-human tendency to be ruled
by limiting assumptions is the most
insidious – the often invisible mix of
outdated beliefs, false conclusions,
and habits of thought that blind us to
glorious new possibilities.
That’s why all Idea Champions
sessions include a deep dive into the
phenomenon – at least one action
learning challenge, debrief, and
mindshift technique that allows
participants to identify and transform
their assumptions into powerful
questions to resolve with others.

All Idea Champions
sessions include the
teaching and practice
of creating thinking
tools and techniques
that enable participants
go beyond left-brain
dominance and tap
into a higher realm of
innate brilliance.
These tools and
techniques are
easy-to-learn,
highly effective, and
can be immediately
applied on the job.

One of the deliverables of our sessions
are powerful, new business growth
ideas – both incremental and
breakthrough. Participants not only
get out of the box and ideate,
they develop and refine their ideas.

All Idea Champions sessions
are a mix of thinking and
doing. Taking our cue from
decades of adult learning
research and 25 years of inthe-trenches experience
with a wide variety of
industries, we are firm
believers in the value of
hands-on, action learning.
Our goal? To spark the kind
of insights, illuminations,
and ahas that translate into
sustainable behavior change
that makes a difference.

It’s one thing to “get out of the box”
– it’s quite another to do something
practical with the insights and ideas
that emerge from that experience.
Which is why all our sessions end
with “convergence” – the process
of jump starting raw
possibility into
bottom line
results.

• Idea assessment
• Sub group formation
• Action Planning
• Declarations of intent

Each person
who participates
in an
Idea Champions
session receives
a set of visually
compelling
materials to
reinforce and
extend the
principles, tools,
and techniques
we teach.
Some of these
materials are
used, real-time,
in our sessions,
some are used
in the weeks
that follow.

"Idea Champions offers pragmatic tools and insights
that enable innovation. Their approach is engaging,
encouraging and creates an impetus for participants
to apply the learning immediately."
– Michael Serino, Senior Director, Merck

"Idea Champions has been a partner with the
Chubb Business School for four years and has helped us
drive the skillset and mindset of innovation throughout
the organization. This partnership has resulted in an approach
that focuses not only on the skill of creative thinking,
but on the application of that learning. Several ideas from
Chubb Business School have been pitched to our
Venture Fund Team and received funding for development
and implementation. Definitely solid ROI!"
– Mary Ann Heenehan, Corporate Groups Development Manager

"As I reflect on your Ingenious Leadership session,
I continue to find that the takeaways from that single day
have proved to be much more valuable to me
than some of the more extensive consulting inputs
I have received from large brand name consultants
my company interacts with. The practical emphasis
you made on the human side of innovation hits the mark.”
– Harry Kiskaddon, Vice President, Alcoa

"Idea Champions' highly engaging approach,
combining creative energy and business practicality,
is a real winner. Their process and practical tools
helps people experience innovation in the moment,
and more importantly, enables them to apply the learning
back home with their own teams."
– Mike Canning, CEO Duke Corporate Ed

"Idea Champions continues to be a terrific partner
as we proceed on our innovation journey.
They are highly knowledgeable about developing
an innovative culture, know what to do and,
more importantly, know what not to do.
They are also wonderful facilitators of group training
— both entertaining and educational.
I recommend Idea Champions to any company
looking to build their innovation capabilities!”
- Darcy Smith, VP Subsidiary HR, Highmark

The DNA of IDEA CHAMPIONS WORKSHOPS

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