Perspectives: don't check your hat at the door: NRPA needs its members to draw from different life experiences.A 2006 survey by the American Management Association reported that "81 percent of CEOs said innovation will he the single most important factor to assure future success of their business." The survey also said "whatever the mantra mantra (măn`trə, mŭn–), in Hinduism and Buddhism, mystic words used in ritual and meditation. A mantra is believed to be the sound form of reality, having the power to bring into being the reality it represents. , the long-term Long-term Three or more years. In the context of accounting, more than 1 year. long-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss in the value of a security that has been held over a specific length of time. Compare short-term. viability of any company depends on a continual ability to innovate in·no·vate v. in·no·vat·ed, in·no·vat·ing, in·no·vates v.tr. To begin or introduce (something new) for or as if for the first time. v.intr. To begin or introduce something new. ." As a 21st century national association, is NRPA NRPA National Recreation and Park Association NRPA Natural Resources Protective Association (Staten Island, NY) NRPA Niagara Regional Police Association (Canada) NRPA National Rifle and Pistol Association being innovative in developing new products and delivering services while improving quality and productivity? Are we thinking creatively with innovation for our long-term viability? I've talked to many people about the idea that all who are engaged in an organization need to bring their "hat" to the table. Their hat relates to their different positive and negative experiences whether from home, business or play. NRPA needs all of these experiences and perspectives of its members to be creative and continue to move forward. You can't just check your "hat" at the door. I ran these thoughts by a friend, Dave Pearce Dave Pearce is a British dance DJ and record producer, playing gigs across the UK and the world, although he is perhaps best known for his work in radio. He currently works for BBC Radio 1 presenting the long-running Dance Anthems show on Friday nights between 11. , a creative thinking consultant, with the North Dakota North Dakota, state in the N central United States. It is bordered by Minnesota, across the Red River of the North (E), South Dakota (S), Montana (W), and the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (N). Leadership in Educational & Administrative Development Center. As we talked about my ideas about hats being our experiences, Dave suggested that it is not only experiences, but the way we think, individually and as a group, that leads to greater creativity and innovation. We also must give each other respect as individuals and as an organization to think in unique ways that will allow us to be more innovative. Dave says we should focus on six different hats--or thinking processes--to make truly innovative decisions. Referencing the book, Six Thinking Hats, by Dr. Edward deBono, Dave explained our hats as: * White hat-calls for information. * Yellow hat-symbolizes brightness and optimism in exploring the positive. * Black hat-"devils advocate" that questions why something won't work. * Red hat-symbolizes feelings, hunches and intuition intuition, in philosophy, way of knowing directly; immediate apprehension. The Greeks understood intuition to be the grasp of universal principles by the intelligence (nous), as distinguished from the fleeting impressions of the senses. . * Green hat-focuses on creativity, possibilities and new ideas "New Ideas" is the debut single by Scottish New Wave/Indie Rock act The Dykeenies. It was first released as a Double A-side with "Will It Happen Tonight?" on July 17, 2006. The band also recorded a video for the track. . * Blue hat-manages the thinking process. This is an interesting approach--before we can make a decision, we should gather and identify as much of the history and the facts as possible; explore the positive, the negative, the strengths and the weaknesses; question the issues; focus on the possibilities, creativity and innovation; feel passion; and manage this as a process. To think we can truly bring all our life, our home and our work experiences to the table to improve our association, our businesses and our future, I'd remind all of us that none of us can afford to check our hats at the door. By Steve Neu NRPA President |
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