Ideatime - Podcast Details

Shows

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate a Scenario Planning WorkshopThis podcast, "How to Facilitate a Scenario Planning Workshop", will guide you through using scenario planning to help you to develop and strengthen your sustainable innovation strategy. Key takeaways: Understanding sustainable innovation: Balance environmental, societal, and economic impacts for long-term success 🌱. Scenario planning insights: How to prepare for various futures, mitigating risks and spotting opportunities 🔍. From theory to practice: Real-world applications that show the impact of effective scenario planning. 🚀 Tools and processes: Effective strategies and tools for developing actionable plans based on critical scenarios 💡. Who should listen? Leaders, strategists, and anyone int...2024-02-2925 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthBuild a Successful Innovation Team🚀 Build a Successful Innovation Team 🚀 🎥 🎙️ In this week’s Idea Time show, I explore how to build an innovation-driven team. Highlights are: Innovation as a Core Value: Essential for product development, adding technical, process, and functional value. Innovation Time Off (ITO): Learn from Google, 3M and others . Balance innovation and productivity. Set the Innovation Stage: Effective communication and real-life examples to spark creativity. Lean Start-up Approach: Validating ideas early with a Build-Measure-Learn cycle. Diverse Team Composition: Diversity fuels creativity. Importance of a guiding team leader. Skills for Innovation Teams: Creative, critical thinking, e...2023-12-0724 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthSustainable Business Model InnovationIn this episode, I dive into the world of sustainable business model innovation and discuss why it’s essential in the contemporary business environment. Key topics I cover are: The rising demand for sustainability from customers and the global trend towards sustainable value propositions. Examples of businesses committing to Net Zero targets. The role of sustainability in attracting and retaining talent, and the link between environmental ethics and job satisfaction. The creation of new opportunities through sustainable business model innovation, such as supply chain innovations. The definition of a sustainable business model and the pur...2023-10-2627 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow Open Innovation Can Transform Your BusinessOpen innovation is all about expanding your business horizons. Instead of keeping all your ideas and projects in-house, you collaborate with external partners, startups, or customers. This approach speeds up innovation, cuts costs, and could give your business the competitive edge it needs. Tune into my livestream to learn how you can make open innovation work for you. Get to Know Open Innovation I'll start off by demystifying what open innovation really means. I’ll explain the difference between open and closed innovation models. Real-World Cases Hear abou...2023-10-1924 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthAppreciative Inquiry for Innovators and FacilitatorsIn this episode of the Idea Time show, I cover what Appreciative Inquiry is and show you how you could use the process of Appreciative Inquiry to create and facilitate highly effective, strengths-focused innovation. Appreciative Inquiry means recognising, exploring and building on the positive, aligning with strengths-based development. It is all about reframing, and, starting from the position of asking, ‘What are we doing well?’, ‘What are the good things?’, ‘What are we great at?’, ‘What are the positives that we have got to offer?’ Having a positive focus is optimistic, empowering and moti...2023-10-1220 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Prioritize Ideas Using Top Innovation FrameworksHaving a lot of ideas after a brainstorming session? Unsure which to pick? I've got you covered. In this show, I'll introduce you to 8 proven innovation frameworks that can help. These tools can be used individually or in group settings. Pick what's best for your scenario. Innovation Frameworks to Discuss: Idea Sorter MoSCoW Method The KJ Method (Kawakita Jiro Method) RICE Scoring Method Kano Model WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) Eisenhower Box (or Urgent-Important Matrix) Ivy Lee Method Think I've overlooked one? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll include it!...2023-09-2821 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthEntrepreneurship in ActionIn this podcast episode I’m joined by my very special guest, TV producer and presenter, entrepreneur, 2x award-winning author, and elite carp angler, Ali Hamidi. Ali is the founder and CEO of One More Cast Ltd, a big dream that has become reality. Ali’s focus has been to create a brand with premium fishing tackle and outdoor products to cater for a wide range of situations. He’s obsessive about customer engagement to drive future product development alongside the business’ extensive experience in the fishing tackle industry, accessories and clothing. Not only does Ali love...2023-07-1348 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthDesign Thinking 101Harness the power of Design Thinking! A dynamic approach to problem-solving that promotes human-centricity, encourages creativity, and celebrates practicality. Join me as we explore: 🎯 The art of understanding user's needs ❓ The science of defining precise problems 🧠 The fun in brainstorming innovative solutions 📐 The creativity involved in designing a prototype ✔️ The thrill of testing it, and 🚀 The satisfaction of implementing the solution 🎯 The ultimate goal? To devise user-friendly solutions that are both feasible and commercially viable, driving innovation and fostering a unique competitive ad...2023-06-2931 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthCreative Strategy with Brian TamWelcome to another exciting episode of the Idea Time podcast. In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Brian Tam, a renowned creative strategist based in Lisbon. Brian is dedicated to helping small to medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs globally innovate and grow. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect from this episode: Global Experience and Perspectives on Innovation: Brian has a wealth of experience working in various parts of the world, from the US to Shanghai, and now Lisbon. His unique perspectives on innovation, moulded by his rich global expe...2023-06-2243 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthInnovation and Entrepreneurship in the Boardroom, with Patrick DunneI’m joined by my special guest, Patrick Dunne, for an in-depth exploration of innovation and entrepreneurship in the boardroom. Patrick Dunne is an experienced Chair with extensive experience of working with boards in Europe, Asia and North America. Currently Chair of board consultancy Boardelta, the charities The EY Foundation and ESSA- Education Sub Saharan Africa as well as Chair of the oversight board for the Chartered Management Consultant and trustee of the Chartered Management Institute. He’s the author of the award-winning “Boards” and three other successful books on the subject and was a mem...2023-06-1537 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthMastering Growth Mindset and Lean InnovationIn this week’s show, I'll explore the powerful synergy between growth mindset and lean innovation. I’ll share how to create a culture that fosters creativity, resilience, and efficiency, empowering your business to innovate effectively and stay ahead of the curve. Here’s what I’ll cover: Growth Mindset 🌱 The science behind growth mindset Key characteristics of a growth mindset culture Strategies to develop and nurture growth mindset within individuals and teams How to assess and improve your organization's growth mindset culture Lean Innovation 🎯 Introduction t...2023-06-0127 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthMeasuring Innovation – Analytics for Growth, New Products and ServicesIn this episode, guest Amanda Webb of Spiderworking guides us on using Google Analytics and social media data for innovation and growth. She discusses the transition from Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4, emphasizing its role in providing crucial insights into website visitors and their behavior. Amanda illustrates how to use these tools to test market reception of a new product idea, guide content creation, and drive engagement. She also shares how businesses can use these analytics to understand and engage with new audiences. A valuable listen for bus...2023-05-2538 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthConfident Live! - video and presentations with special guest, Ian Anderson GrayI’m excited to introduce special guest, Ian Anderson Gray, to my show this week. Ian helps us to gain confidence in front of the camera, improve communication skills and feel even better about live video and presenting in online meetings. Ian is the founder of the Confident Live Marketing Academy and is the host of the Confident Live Marketing Podcast. He helps entrepreneurs to level up their impact, authority and profits by using live video confidently. He's also the founder of Seriously Social - a blog focused on live video and social media tools....2023-05-2539 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthEntrepreneurial Mindset for Innovation and Growth, with Dr. Joanna Berry, Durham UniversityIn this fascinating episode, I have the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Joanna Berry, an esteemed professor at Durham University and a luminary in the field of entrepreneurship. Dr. Berry is not just an academic, but a seasoned entrepreneur who successfully transitioned from running her own business to developing the next generation of entrepreneurs. We delve deeply into the fascinating world of entrepreneurial mindset - a subject often misunderstood and underestimated. Dr. Berry demystifies what it truly means to have an entrepreneurial mindset, going beyond the confines of business startups and corporate environments. S...2023-05-1835 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthData Pioneers: A Digital Innovation Case Study, with Simon Jefferson, CatsurveysWelcome to Data Pioneers: A Digital Innovation Case Study, featuring Simon Jefferson from Catsurveys! In this episode, we're shifting the spotlight from big brands to small and medium-sized B2B companies that are trailblazing their way to innovation success. Joining us today is Simon Jefferson, who will share how Catsurveys has masterfully introduced a game-changing, data-driven digital innovation alongside their existing business model. We'll dive into topics that are crucial for businesses seeking to innovate, including: Collaborating with customers across various industries from traditional sectors to more progressive ones, as the...2023-05-1141 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate a Customer Journey Mapping WorkshopAre you looking to enhance your organization's understanding of the customer perspective and provide a better customer experience? If yes, then a customer journey mapping workshop is just what you need. Int his podcast, I will guide you through the fundamentals of customer journey mapping, share how to facilitate a successful workshop, and create insightful before-and-after customer journey maps. Here's what I cover: What is Customer Journey Mapping and why it's invaluable for all types of businesses Key steps to creating an effective Customer Journey Map Examples of successful Customer Jo...2023-05-0132 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthLead Productive, Effective, and Fun Retrospective MeetingsLead Productive, Effective, and Fun Retrospective Meetings How are your retrospective, or ‘lessons learned’, meetings going? 🤔 Are they full of energy, actionable insights for your future projects, or have they become a bit stale and same-y? Are you even doing them at all? Or have they never even started or fallen by the wayside because everyone is “too busy”? Retrospectives are workshop-style meetings that take place after key phases of project activity, innovation, events, or sprints. They are designed to give you and your team light bulb moments about...2023-04-2731 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthLateral Thinking, Creativity and Leading Innovation with Paul Sloane20 times published author, international speaker and facilitator Paul Sloane is my guest on this episode of the Idea Time Innovation Podcast. Paul Sloane is an author and speaker on lateral thinking, creativity, and the leadership of innovation. He has written over 20 books on these subjects. The latest, published by Kogan Page, is Lateral Thinking for Every Day. He gives talks and workshops and his corporate clients include Nike, Microsoft, Bayer and Unilever. His most recent online course on Udemy is entitled, How to be a Brilliant Thinker. Topics we cover in the epi...2023-04-2547 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Build an Innovative Culture with Paul SlaterPaul Slater from the change shed is today's podcast guest. Paul's an expert on change culture and transformation. In this episode we focus on how to build an innovative culture in your organisation. We talk about what an innovative culture is, what it means in practice, what it means for leaders, and speculate on the future of AI and its interaction with employee creativity. Topics include: What is an innovative culture? Why is it important to build an innovation culture in organizations? The essential ingredients of a positive innovation culture Pr...2023-04-2045 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHarnessing AI, Technology and Innovation for Online Learning with Taryn Haynes-SmartThis episode focuses on harnessing AI, technology, and innovation in online learning. I'm joined by Taryn Haynes-Smart, Head of Product Development at the Digital Campus in Johannesburg, South Africa. Taryn is a creative innovator who loves to use AI, technology, and innovation to create fantastic learning experiences for people participating in online University programmes. We talk about online learning and some of the tools and approaches that Taryn takes uses. We also explore what the impact of technology such as AI means for the future of learning and development, and how we can work with...2023-04-1339 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthKnowledge Exchange and Innovation, with Amanda Selvaratnam, University of YorkIn this podcast episode about knowledge exchange and innovation, I'm joined by my guest Amanda Selvaratnam, Associate Director of Research and Enterprise at the University of York in the UK. Key topics we cover are: What is Knowledge Exchange and why does it matter? Collaborative Learning: Strategies for Effective Knowledge Exchange From Theory to Practice: How to Implement Knowledge Exchange in Real Projects Building Strong Networks for Effective Knowledge Exchange Maximising the Impact of Knowledge Exchange: Tips and Techniques The Future of Knowledge Exchange: Trends and Innovation Amanda is an expert on commercialising i...2023-04-1332 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate a Problem Solving WorkshopProblems are simply the gaps between where you want your business to be and where it currently is. And of course, helping customers with their problems is what we are all in business to do. In innovation terms, some business problems are “messy”, that is, they are connected to other problems. Or they might be “wicked” problems, meaning they’re unclear and keep changing and evolving. Just a few examples are: Creating a new marketing campaign that works Bringing diverse stakeholders together to collaborate on a joint plan Formulating work-winning solutions...2023-02-2436 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthFacilitation Ideas for Your Goal Achievement WorkshopAre you excited by your business goals for 2023? Have you got clear plans in place to achieve them, with contingencies mapped out in case other things get in the way? In this live episode I’ll be sharing evidence-based insights, tools, and approaches on how to facilitate a goal achievement workshop for your business, or a mini “retreat” if you’re working on your own. I hope you’ll join me, either live or on replay, to de-risk your important business goals falling by the wayside as the year progresses! I’ll help you to act s...2023-02-1026 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthFacilitation Ideas forYour High Performing Team WorkshopAre you thinking about working with your team to regroup, reset and refocus for a healthy, enjoyable, and high performing year ahead? In this episode, I share evidence-based insights, tools, and approaches for facilitating a High Performing Team Reset and Refocus Workshop. The definition of ‘High Performance’ I use is about achieving sustainably and well, over the long term. Wellbeing, connection, purpose, values, individual and team strengths are integral to true success. I also share: Research, and practical ways you can use that research, to help your team to perform at an...2023-02-0324 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthPlan Your Product and Service PortfolioHow well are your products and services performing? When was the last time that you sat down and did a strategic review of your portfolio? For some businesses, it’s a regular, ongoing activity. They’re always on top of what’s working and spotting early signs that something needs to be tweaked or changed. In many cases, entrepreneurial leaders know what’s going well and what isn’t, based on intuition, but don’t get thoughts out on paper often enough to help them think through their next moves and strategies to...2022-12-1625 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate a Mission, Vision and Values WorkshopOne of the members of my Idea Time for Workshop Facilitators Facebook Group asked me for some ideas for creative facilitation activities to use when working with groups to establish their Mission, Vision and Values. So, in this show I’ll share a toolkit that will help you to facilitate a super-successful Mission, Vision & Values Workshop for your team or client. You can use my tried-and-tested toolkit to lead your delegates through the steps to co-create their Mission, Vision and Values from scratch, or to refresh and update the ones already in plac...2022-12-1629 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthGrowth Hacking SprintsHave you considered a growth hacking sprint for your business? It could help you and your team achieve a flying start to the year ahead, in just a couple of hours. Growth hacking is an approach that helps businesses to scale by combining powerful data, technical expertise and marketing flair to find and test promising new ways of driving growth. It’s not about ‘hacking’ in the sense of too-good-to-be true short cuts. Growth hacking means finding creative, low-cost strategies to help businesses acquire and retain customers, testing t...2022-12-1622 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthWhat is eco innovation?"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” - Einstein It’s brilliant that so many businesses want to be part of the solution when it comes to combating climate change and protecting natural resources through improving day-to-day processes. And, as Einstein observed, new challenges call for new solutions. In addition to Government decarbonisation target dates looming ever closer, consumers and communities are demanding more transparency and products that are environmentally and socially responsible. Eco innovation is aimed at drivi...2022-05-1018 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthInfluencing Skills for Innovation You don’t have to be a person of influence to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me. – Scott Adams In my day-to-day, I encounter so many great innovators who have what they think are brilliant ideas. However, some of them struggle to get these ideas across the line, because others don’t see the opportunity the same way. What’s obvious to an innovator may not be obvious to others. Influencing skills go hand-in-hand with entrepreneurship and innovation...2022-03-1825 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthDeep Dive into IntrapreneurshipI’ve always been fascinated by what makes some people innovative and enterprising – or intrapreneurial – at work, and why some people prefer to be more risk averse and focus on managing the day-to-day, rather than actively seeking to shape the future. Businesses need both, of course, to be successful. It was this sheer passion and joy for all things intrapreneurship, entrepreneurship and innovation-related that led me to study for 6 years part-time to achieve my doctorate in my late forties (whilst working full time too). In this show, I’m going...2022-02-1125 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate a Goal Setting Workshop"Rowing harder doesn’t help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction." — Kenichi Ohmae Setting meaningful, stretching but realistic goals is one of the keys to success in business innovation and growth. When individuals and teams collaborate to set goals, they create an environment where team members work towards a shared vision, collaborate and perform better overall. In this show, I discuss some of the science and evidence that inform effective goal setting for teams. I also share a proven goal setting workshop agenda and toolkit of activities that you...2022-01-2122 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo North2022 Trends – a Round Up for Innovators and EntrepreneursAre you looking ahead yet to 2022? Now’s a good a time to start as any, and I’ve done a bit of the hard work for you. I’ve reviewed a range of the leading trends reports for 2022 and will be sharing my overview for innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders in this episode. Join me for a practical, evidence-based view of what’s likely to be important for consumers and businesses as the world continues to change in these unusual times. You’ll get some useful tips and suggestions for how to use the 202...2021-12-1722 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Power Up Your Innovation MindsetDo you want to put a ding in the universe? Steve Jobs did. And I think many of us want to, as well, in our own way. It doesn’t have to be a huge ding. Lots of smaller dings add up. As ding-making team members, innovators and leaders, we can all develop our innovation mindset to massively multiply the positive impact that we create. We can learn to strengthen and maximise our unique, personal innovation thinking style by understanding it, and then by using approaches, tools and practice to help our...2021-12-0318 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthCollaborative InnovationCollaborative innovation happens when different organisations, or teams from the same organization, work in partnership to create new products, services or solutions. It can be a brilliant approach to solving big, important challenges that need diverse inputs, pooled resources, and shared learning. Collaborative innovation also has its ups and downs, at times! The key to success lies in understanding the potential challenges and benefits, being prepared for them, and developing the discernment and skills to both lead and contribute well. In this episode, I’ll cover: …What collaborative innovation is an...2021-11-1920 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthInnovation Strategy for Your BusinessI believe innovation is all about coming up with great, new ideas and using them to make a positive difference in the world. Of course, innovation has always been with us. Everything we use or enjoy today is the result of an innovation from someone, somewhere. But it feels like we have never needed innovation as much as we need it now: emerging from the pandemic, tackling climate change, building a fairer, safer society and more. Businesses of all sizes collectively play a major role in driving innov...2021-11-0521 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow do Innovation Sprints Work?How do innovation sprints, also known as design sprints, actually work? If you’ve not experienced one before, an innovation or design sprint is a short, focused, purposeful event designed to achieve solutions to a specific challenge or opportunity. Together your delegates from inside and often outside your organisation will collaborate to collectively define what success looks like for your challenge or opportunity. They’ll generate and develop ideas to achieve that success, and create early prototypes and action plans. Innovation sprints can be online, in-person or hybrid events. I love...2021-10-2922 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthThought-leadership and Innovation. Creativity and Critical ThinkingWouldn’t it be fantastic if … …everyone in business felt inspired, confident and unapologetic enough to think independently, create more and regurgitate less? …people trusted in themselves and listened to their own intuition? …they consulted others, took on board different perspectives, and then came to their own conclusions, thinking creatively AND critically? Never before have we had so much access to such a huge diversity of opinion, data, information, and so many opportunities to connect with and follow people from around the world. In some ways, we are...2021-10-0823 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate Group Dynamics in Workshops & SprintsPeople behave differently in groups than when they are on their own or one-to-one. This episode is a deep-dive into group dynamics for workshop facilitators. I’ll share some fascinating and useful insights into group dynamics that are invaluable for remote and in-person facilitation. Themes include: How our human need for social connection influences our behaviors in a group setting Insights into group psychology Creativity and the group norms How to structure your workshops, sprints and meetings to support collaboration, innovation and achieve results Group dynamics are a key...2021-08-1326 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthStrengths-focused Innovation, with Andy JenkinsJoin me and my special guest, Andy Jenkins of MyLeadership Strengths, for this episode on strengths-focused innovation. Leading innovation in organisations brings great responsibility as well as opportunity. In Andy’s decades of work developing leaders, he’s seen a common response to that responsibility: leaders strive to be good at everything. Research, and his experience, show that the ‘perfect’ leader does not exist. In fact, evidence shows great leaders: Have a strong understanding of their own unique strengths and capitalise on them Address their most important individual weaknesses Understand and tap into the strengths...2021-08-0640 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthGuide to Psychological Safety and Teamwork for Innovators, Facilitators and Change Makers.Psychological safety is the key ingredient of high performing teams. It is defined as "a belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes” (Professor Amy Edmondson, Harvard Business School). This episode is a great guide to psychological safety for innovators, facilitators and change makers. I share: A definition of and deep-dive into psychological safety, plus why it is important for team working, specifically including innovation, business growth, design sprints and learning environments. Spotting the signs of psychological danger and psychological safety in teams. How to...2021-07-3029 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthFacilitating a Business Strategy WorkshopIn this episode, I share all the essential information you need to know to do a brilliant job of facilitating a business strategy workshop, either for the company you work for or for your clients. The tools, tips and techniques I share can be flexed for virtual / online, in-person and hybrid or blended meetings. I’ll help you to think through: The purpose and objectives of the session Planning, preparation and delegate pre-work On-the-day facilitation I’ll go through a suggested strategy workshop agenda, and detail each of the activities I recommend that you...2021-07-2327 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthA Guide to Hybrid WorkingHybrid working, which is sometimes called “blended working”, is a form of flexible working that allows employees to split their time between attending the workplace and working remotely (usually from home). In the current climate, more and more teams are considering or doing hybrid working. This week’s episode is a guide to hybrid working – the upsides, potential downsides and how to make it work for you and your team. When some team members work remotely for some of their working week or carry out other forms of flexible working, performance can be harder to obs...2021-07-1614 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Be a Great FacilitatorIn this week’s episode, I share some of my facilitation techniques, skills and tips to help you take your facilitation skills to the next level. Facilitating a workshop or meeting can be challenging at times, and that’s why I’m here to share my experience of facilitating thousands of people in different sectors in countries all over the world. For more free innovation and facilitation resources, go to https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/resources/ and fill your boots with lots of great stuff! To find out more about my virtual facilitation, have a...2021-07-0217 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Write an Innovation Business CaseYou’ve got a great business idea… How do you know if it stacks up financially? What about the other, non-financial risks and benefits? How do you decide if it’s a go-er or not, and how do you influence the people you need to support you and maybe even invest in your innovation? These are the questions that I’ll help you to answer in this week’s show. I’ll walk through how to create a realistic, credible business case for your innovation that not only gives you confidence in your deci...2021-06-2513 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Lead and Manage ChangeLeading and managing change is one of the most essential skills leaders, managers, innovators and entrepreneurs need in business today. Everything around us is always changing, and our businesses need to be able to respond dynamically to those changes. Plus, resistance to change gets in the way of great ideas happening. Imagine if all the unused, uncommunicated great ideas that people in the business had thought of over time were stacked in a room. Not all of them would be gold dust, but the combined potential of the...2021-05-2841 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthBusiness Storytelling for Innovators, Facilitators & Change MakersThis week’s episode provides innovators, facilitators and change makers with the tools and confidence to engage, inspire and move others to make progress, take action and get on board with new initiatives through the power of stories. Business storytelling is a powerful communications tool for connecting with and moving people, and it’s a learnable skill. It includes: Why we are all wired to engage with stories, and how to apply that to the work environment. How to use stories to support innovation, transformation and change. How to use...2021-05-2128 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthMixed Mode Meetings - How to Combine Virtual and In Person MeetingsAs the world is fortunately starting to open up once more, many workshop facilitators need to lead “mixed mode” meetings. These “mixed mode” meetings combine some delegates attending virtually, others in person. The advantages of combined virtual and in-person workshops are that people across large distances can connect. Mixed mode does need special consideration and planning, however, to make sure that everyone gets the best experience from the meeting, and that you achieve the target outcomes from the meeting in your role as workshop facilitator. Tune in to learn some really useful tools, tips and techniqu...2021-05-1414 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthInnovation in Highly Regulated Industries - Interview with National Nuclear LaboratoryIn this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tim Whitworth and Paul Knight from the National Nuclear Laboratory in the UK. National Nuclear Laboratory works globally at the forefront of nuclear science, providing knowledge, technology, and access to cutting-edge facilities to partners and customers. Their innovative approach means their people embrace the opportunity to make new scientific discoveries, using them to create market-ready products and services that drive the nuclear industry forward in performance, safety, and impact. In this episode we discuss: Who National Nuclear Laboratory are and what they do A...2021-05-0738 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthIdea Generation Activities for Online MeetingsOur ideas are our competitive currency. They are what differentiate us, our team and our organisation from everyone else. They’re at the heart of innovation because, of course, everything starts with an idea. But getting your team to have great ideas in your online meetings and remote workshops can be a challenge. Especially these days, when we are still spending so much time on Zoom, MS Teams, Google Hangouts and other platforms. In this week’s show I’ll share some of my favourite, tried-and-tested idea generation activities that will add some creative sparks to your rem...2021-04-3017 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthMake Your Business Ideas Happen! Innovation in ActionDo you have great ideas for your business, but never seem to have the time to make them happen? Have you got so many plates spinning that innovation, initiatives that would grow your business and potential opportunities fall by the wayside? This episode of the Idea Time Show will help you with practical tactics that you can use, starting right now, to turn those great ideas from a “maybe one day” to a right-now reality. Find out: What we all need to achieve challenging goals How to create time to make your idea...2021-04-2313 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo North5 Brilliant Energizers for Online MeetingsIn this episode, I share 5 of my favourite quick, creative, fun and effective energizers for your online meetings and remote workshops. They are awesome to have in your virtual facilitation toolkit! And if you’d like even more where these came from, you’ll find 26 brilliant energizers for your online meetings here in my blog: https://www.bigbangpartnership.co.uk/26-online-energizers-for-virtual-teams-and-remote-meetings/ In the show, I explain how and why energizers work so well and are so important for your virtual meetings and remote team working. I then share how to facilitate thes...2021-04-0213 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthLeadership: From Zero to Authentic Hero with special guest Nick BradleyJoin me and my special guest, Nick Bradley, founder of Mandala Leaders, for this week’s podcast on leading innovation and change. Don't forget to get a free copy of Nick’s book, Zero to Authentic Hero. Zero to Authentic Hero is designed to help you be the best version of your authentic leadership self and achieve much more success with much less stress. Nick is a successful businessman having worked in investment banking and management consultancy for 30 years. He has a passion for inspiring individuals and businesses to achieve their purpose. He has travelled to suppor...2021-03-2631 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthFind Your Unfair AdvantageAn unfair disadvantage is behind every single business or career success story. In this episode, I’ll show you why it’s important to identify your own Unfair Advantages and how to apply them to your business or career. You’ll need more than hard work and determination, and I’ll explore the importance of money, intelligence, insight, location, education, expertise, status and luck in your success journey. I’ll show you how you can apply your Unfair Advantages and how to create, demonstrate and communicate them in a way that’s relevant and appropri...2021-03-1922 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to do Competitor AnalysisThe purpose of this episode is to create space and insight for you to think about some useful, pragmatic competitor analysis for your business, to support innovation and growth. Competitor analysis evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of competitors’ current strategies to help identify opportunities and threats for your business to enhance your own strategy. When seen through a customer-focused lens, competitor analysis is not about head-to-head comparisons. Instead, it’s about assessing how much better or worse a product or service is at helping the customer get a job done. 2021-03-1229 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Create Your Value PropositionIf your customers don’t care enough about your innovation, or if they simply don’t understand it, they won’t buy. How to Create Your Value Proposition focuses on how to make sure that your business ideas for new products or services, and product or service improvements, meet and exceed your target customers’ expectations. It’s the focus of one of the inhouse online live programmes that I run for my clients. The approach and insights have made a significant difference to my clients’ innovation and business growth results, so I wanted to share some of the...2021-03-0522 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthLeading Remote CollaborationLeading Remote Collaboration focuses in creating an environment and culture for effective cross-functional team working. It’s the focus of one of the inhouse online live programmes that I run for my clients. The participant feedback from the programme has been fantastic, so I wanted to share some of the key principles from the content with you on my show. This episode takes a realistic, human view of how collaboration can feel and work in business and gives actionable insights that you can use straightaway with your team. In this show, I cover:...2021-02-2631 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthWhat is business innovation? Why is it important for YOUR business RIGHT NOW!Innovation has never been more important for you and your business. It used to be that only fashion and technology companies had to reimagine themselves every year. Now everything, from accountants, estate agents, food brands and travel companies are under constant pressure to stay ahead of the curve and keep and attract customers with new, better and smarter products, services and business models - before the competition gets there first. Join me for this show to find out more about business innovation, market disruption the risks of standing still, and think about how...2021-02-1914 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthYour Amazing Creative Mind with Kathryn CreedToday I have a special guest on the show, Kathryn Creed. Kathryn is a clinical hypnotherapist who works with clients using the power of hypnosis to help them to connect with their unconscious minds, helping them to whatever outcome they would like to achieve. Her career in Education gave her the relevant experience, as for her, like therapy, teaching is all about helping a person to learn and grow by finding their inner strength, potential and capacity for change. Kathryn works with adults as well as children to remove the obstacles which hold them back from the life that...2021-01-2231 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthDare to be Different - with Dr. Jo NorthJoin me for this podcast episode which is all about daring to be different as virtual facilitators - what does that mean? how to do it? - practical tips on how to be braver and stand out as a virtual facilitator for all the right reasons. You might also enjoy my special blog and free resources on how to dare to be different which you can find here. 2020-11-2320 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthVirtual Facilitation in Action - Innovation Festival 2020In this solo episode I share my experience of facilitating online at Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival 2020. The sessions I led were on the value of water, and climate change with Kielder Forest and Water Park. You can find out more about the Innovation Festival 2020 here. For more free tips and advice on virtual facilitation, have a look at my blog here. 2020-11-2019 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthVisible Thinking with Claire BownI loved learning more about visible thinking, thinking routines and virtual facilitation in this episode with my special guest, Claire Bown founder at Thinking Museum. Claire is based in Amsterdam and works internationally. She has always been fascinated by developing methods that help people to engage with art and museums creatively and in a thought-provoking, inquiry-led way. Claire does a great job helping museum teams to ask great questions, to achieve discussion-based programmes around art and to make visits much more interactive using a simple structure. She helps museum and art gallery teams to share the...2020-11-1630 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthMindfulness Tips for Virtual FacilitatorsTune in for my mindfulness tools, tips and techniques for virtual facilitators. Learn how to slow down your digital facilitation in your online meetings to go faster and be more productive overall! In this episode I share practical things that you can do to increase your energy and support your wellbeing when you're going from online workshop to online workshop. Everything I share is scientifically-backed, so you can have the confidence that these insights will work for you. I cover: - Different types of meditation for improving creativity and...2020-11-0620 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthGetting Engagement in Online Workshops - Trust & Psychological SafetyIn this solo episode I share why taking time to build trust between delegates and an environment that helps with psychological safety is essential for generating engagement in online meetings and workshops. I share some of the latest science on trust and psychological safety, along with practical tips to support you with your virtual facilitation. To join my free private Facebook group, Idea Time for Workshop Facilitators, please use this link. 2020-09-1719 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthThe Innovation Story of VWall -The Virtual Whiteboard Ahead of Its TimeJoin me and innovators Mark Whittaker from Velresco and Chris Wilson from Adamo to hear the story of how Mark created a new virtual whiteboard for online meetings and workshops called VWall back in 2010, well ahead of the curve, and how VWall has developed to being an invaluable tool for many facilitators here and now. Mark and Chris share how VWall is a great facilitation tool, and how easy it is to use with platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and others to optimise delegate engagement and participation. VWall allows we facilitators to intuitively capture...2020-09-0419 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Get Ideas Flowing in Virtual Workshops & Online MeetingsIn this solo podcast I share practical tips and advice for facilitators on how to get ideas flowing in your virtual workshops and online meetings. I also share information about my free online programme for facilitators, Supercharge Your Virtual Engagement on Zoom, which you can join for free HERE. In the podcast you'll learn: How ideas are formed and why that's important for your online sessions How to design online workshops that work for diverse thinking and learning styles How to use different creativity techniques through movement, words, numbers, objects, images and more to...2020-08-2818 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthLove Your Numbers! Special Episode with Mahmood, The Numbers RockstarJoin me and Mahmood Reza, the Numbers Rockstar, for this special edition episode to celebrate the first year of the official #lovemyaccountantday on 25th August. Mahmood has worked to officially get this day into the annual event calendar. Listen in to find out: - How Mahmood created an official day in the event calendar and why - Why Mahmood is so passionate about helping business owners to really understand and feel comfortable with using their numbers to tell the story of their business - How we, as busi...2020-08-2120 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthProductivity Hacks for Virtual FacilitatorsIn this solo episode I share my top Productivity Hacks for Virtual Facilitators. My FREE Supercharge Your Virtual Engagement on Zoom Challenge starts on 7th September - you can find out more and sign up here. Here are the links to the tools I mention: SessionLab for planning and designing sessions. Ecamm Live for video recording and live videos. Canva for designing great presentations and graphics. Slidemodel for PowerPoint templates for virtual flipcharts and worksheets. Mentimeter for interactive polling and quizzes. I love...2020-08-2111 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthInnovation Success with Richard HallJoin me and my special guest Richard Hall, founder of Pd-m International Limited, an innovation, product design and manufacturing consultancy. We discuss the success factors of getting a product from concept to commercialisation or use in practice. Richard shares his definition of innovation and the different levels and types of innovation, from incremental to disruptive. Richard and I both use design thinking in our workshops, and we explore what it is and how we use it. Richard gives the example of how he has used design thinking to create medical innovations for surgeons.2020-08-1423 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthVirtual Facilitation using Microsoft Teams & Goal Magic with Leila AingeJoin me in this episode with my special guest Leila Ainge on Virtual Facilitation using Microsoft teams. We also discuss ambitious goals and goal-setting as well as Leila's 'Pavilion Ponders' and more! Leila shares tips on how to use Microsoft Teams for facilitated sessions, including setting up breakout groups by setting up channels in advance, using other tools that integrate with Teams and how to chat and messages before your session starts to begin engagement. Leila also updates us on some new features in Microsoft Teams that are coming out in th...2020-08-0727 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthConnect with Your Magic. Transformational Change with Christine Francis Asmar I love that we can unexpectedly find light in unexpected places. Through lockdown I sat here in North Yorkshire and made a new friend in Christine Francis in Beirut. Christine is a highly qualified and accomplished change leadership expert and coach, and it was an absolute pleasure to spend time with her on the latest episode of my Idea Time podcast. Christine and I found each other on Instagram, began a dialogue, worked on virtual facilitation together and found that we have so much in common, especially our values, love of lea...2020-07-3136 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthValues-based Leadership in Challenging Times with Sarah PriceSarah Price is Strategic Manager and Director of a Community Interest Company that delivers physical activities for schools. She is an Idea Time programme member, and has also joined the new Business Growth Club run by Mahmood Reza and me. Sarah shares her leadership story through recent months and how she has navigated the challenges of lockdown with her school customers and remote team engagement. She is an absolute inspiration, and I'm delighted that Sarah has joined me on the podcast. The insights and experiences that Sarah shares will resonate with you too, I'm sure.2020-07-1521 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Scale Up Your BusinessIn this podcast, which celebrates the upcoming launch of our new Business Growth Club with Mahmood and Jo I share the key success factors for scaling up your business. I cover: The importance of testing that the demand exists for your product or service Why it's important to have solid, streamlined and replicable business processes to support your scale up and some easy ways that you can get ready to delegate or outsource your behind-the-scenes activities The key financial and cashflow considerations you need to bear in mind, and why I also refer to Mahmood Re...2020-07-1320 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthBusiness Growth Club with Mahmood and JoJoin me and my special guest Mahmood Reza, The Numbers Rockstar, in this special edition podcast to launch our Business Growth Club for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to scale up successfully and sustainably. “Ideas are cheap. It is building them into profitable companies that is hard. Ideas are like insects. Many are born but few live to maturity.” William Hertling Imagine that business idea you have. Your business idea could be floating in and out, or it may rest heavy in your thoughts. Either way, you want that idea to turn into...2020-07-0722 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate a Virtual SprintIn this podcast, I share some more tips on how to facilitate a virtual innovation or design sprint. I cover: What is an innovation or design sprint A typical format Different sprint methods - Google sprint, Design Thinking, Creative Problem Solving Toolkit and delegate resource examples How I use tools such as Mentimeter and Milanote to get delegate engagement To download the slides that accompany this podcast for free, go to:https://bigbangpartnership.co.uk/resources/virtual-facilitation-tips/ 2020-07-0524 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthChallenge Statements for Innovation & GrowthAckoff statement This episode focuses on how to create great challenge statements for innovation and growth. Whether you are an innovator, entrepreneur or facilitator, starting off with a challenge statement helps you to focus. In this podcast I cover: - What is a challenge statement, and how they can help with innovation and business growth. - Why questions are great for problem-solving and innovation. - The characteristics of a great challenge, and different types of innovation problem - i.e..tame, wicked, messy probl...2020-07-0218 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Pivot Your BusinessDownload the slide pack from this podcast from my free content studio at https://bigbangpartnership.co.uk/reso... From March 2020, with the outbreak of Covid-19 and the changes it has brought, how to pivot seems to have been one of the most prominent business themes in the media, after of course the financial and operational impact of the pandemic. As a result of Covid-19, we have seen gin manufacturers pivot to making hand sanitiser, engineering firms to producing ventilators and medical equipment, and clothing companies to supporting with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). That s...2020-06-1820 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthSelling in These Challenging Times with Keith Rozelle, The Sales MarvelJoin me for my conversation with Sales Marvel, Keith Rozelle, on Selling in these Challenging Times. Keith mentors Business Owners, Sales Professionals and Entrepreneurial Students to win more customers. He creates highly effective sales strategies for his clients and is a globally experienced sales leader – both as a Director setting strategy and also as an individual contributor selling complex solutions. Keith has worked at C-level level for many years across a broad range of sectors including Financial Services, Agri-food, Hospitality, IT/Telecoms and Higher Education. Much of Keith’s professional experience has been in Technology, Outs...2020-04-3036 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthVirtual Facilitation - 10 Top Challenges & What To Do About ThemIt’s wonderful that we can connect through a variety of brilliant, intuitive and affordable online meeting tools, especially during times such as these. These tools, such as Zoom, Teams and others, make it so easy that I’ve witnessed a lack in creativity and engagement in some online sessions I’ve attended as a delegate. To get the best results and deliver a great experience for our delegates, as facilitators we need to innovate how we design and manage our online workshops. That means all the way through, not just going for a quirky icebreaker before settli...2020-04-2417 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthBusiness Bullet-Proofing. Get Clarity, Make Better Business Decisions.With so many people in business experiencing slow down, cancellations and having to adapt to more remote working, plus others finding brand new business opportunities, I wanted to do something to help and support. These are unprecedented times for many of us, I’m sure. But knowing that we have got a flexible plan to get through, make the most of opportunities and emerge stronger on the other side is a massive help. In this podcast I share how to: Take a step back from your business, think about your immediate priorities and get an...2020-04-1819 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthEasy, Proactive & Free Development for FacilitatorsIn this solo episode, I share some of the easy, proactive & free things I have been doing to both help me through this lockdown period as a facilitator, as well as to develop my facilitation skills and continue to strengthen my business. Activities include: - Journaling my facilitation experiences, ideas, getting creative and emptying my head - Asking for structured, specific feedback on perceptions of my social media brand and image, so that I can build on the positives and spot and work on development opportunities - Going out of my way...2020-04-1710 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthStory Techniques for FacilitatorsIn this episode I explain why and how using story-based techniques can increase the creativity and impact of your workshop facilitation. I share 10 story-based creative facilitation techniques that you can use in your workshops, too - and if you'd like to download the free resource pack that goes with this episode, please go to my Content Studio here, scroll down to the section called 'Facilitation Toolkits' and grab the Story Techniques for Facilitators toolkit. 2020-04-1014 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthVideo & podcast tips from a pro - with Gareth HarrisonJoin me and Gareth Harrison, professional video and podcast editor, for his 10 top tips on how to create and level up your own videos and podcasts. Gareth is a freelance video editor based in Leeds, West Yorkshire – with over 15 years experience in post-production, editing content for tv and online commercials, corporate videos, internal communications, live events, charities and social media. Gareth also has a mobile edit suite, if required, offering the flexibility to work on location or from his own office (when we aren't in lockdown, of course). Using the current lockdown to cr...2020-04-0724 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthYour Creative Brain - Insights for FacilitatorsThis episode is all about you and your ideas. An idea is when two thoughts connect. Having an idea is a physical activity. It is chemical and electrical. Sometimes we think we are having a moment of insight that comes from nowhere, but actually our mind and our creative subconscious have been working on it in the background. It is only when it becomes apparent that a connection is made, that the background work surfaces to create an idea. I share science-based insights on how ideas happen and give you some practical, fun tips on how you c...2020-04-0316 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthInnovation Culture and Opportunities with Dr. Mo KhanDr. Mo Khan is my guest on this special edition podcast on innovation culture and opportunities in challenging times. Mo is the founder of Enhance Innovation and author of the e-book, The Innovator's Treasure Chest, which you can download for free here. Mo has had a fantastic career and worked internationally with world-class engineering businesses. We discuss how important innovation is in challenging times, how some businesses don't give their employees the scope and space to innovate, and how collaboration fuels innovation. If you'd like to find out more and sign up for t...2020-03-3128 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthProductivity Hacks for FacilitatorsListen in for my productivity hacks that I have put together specifically for workshop facilitators. Save time and energy, so that you can spend the time doing what you do best. Being creative, engaging and facilitating your delegates and getting your target results and impacts from your workshops. If you'd like to go one step further, you'll also love my free playbook download, Productivity for Innovators, available here. Just scroll down to the Personal Development section at the bottom of the page and you'll find it there. 2020-03-2715 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthDynamic Business in Unprecedented Times - Idea Time with Georgia DuffeeJoin me and Georgia Duffee from Benedetto in this special podcast episode to help with planning and strategising in these exceptionally challenging times. The episode was recorded at lunchtime on Friday 20th March 2020. Georgia has participated as a delegate in both my paid and free programmes for business leaders, including one that I'm running right now - Creative Reset - to support business owners to navigate through these unprecedented times. If you'd like to join my free Creative Reset programme, you'll find more details here. Georgia is also a member of my free Fa...2020-03-2622 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthMindset, Resilience and Change in Challenging TimesIn this solo episode I share my thoughts, experiences and tips on how to maintain a resilient, focused and healthy mindset when navigating your business through what is a period of change and uncertainty. I explore the theme of resilience and why it's important, and show how we can use the change curve to manage our own wellbeing and business decision-making to get better outcomes. If you'd like to find our more about and join my free Creative Reset programme, you can see all the info and sign up here. You can also...2020-03-2414 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthUse Your Numbers - Navigating Challenging Times with Mahmood RezaIn this special edition podcast with Mahmood Reza, the Numbers Rockstar, Mahmood shares advice on what small businesses can do to navigate these exceptional, challenging times. He's an accounting and finance specialist and has also created a special blog focused on Covid-19 and cashflow here. Mahmood gives a step-by-step guide for entrepreneurs who want to do a cashflow forecast for the next 3-4 months, reduce spending where possible without negatively impacting the business and create a plan. He gives an update on the support available for Government, correct at the time of recording at 7.30am...2020-03-2123 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthAppreciative Inquiry for FacilitatorsWelcome to this episode on Appreciative Inquiry for Facilitators. In this podcast I explain what Appreciative Inquiry is, how it is a strengths-based approach, and how it can be useful for facilitators. I share an Appreciative Inquiry facilitation process and a variety of tools, techniques and activities that you can use in your own facilitation. If you'd like to download the free toolkit, go to the Content Studio on my website here, scroll down to Facilitation Toolkits and you will find it there. To find out more about the academic theory...2020-03-2016 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate Workshops with Broken Teams In this podcast, How to Facilitate Workshops with Broken Teams, I explore dysfunction in teams and why teams might be broken, and move on to the theme of trust. I then share a suggested agenda with you that you can use and adapt and tweak if you are planning to facilitate a session with a team that is not connecting. For those of you who haven’t met me, I am Jo North and I love facilitating, and I facilitate thousands of people every year, I facilitate all over the world, and I...2020-03-1322 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate Business Growth WorkshopsThe theme for this episode is How to Facilitate Business Growth Workshops. I take you through how you to design and facilitate a full business growth workshop that takes you from looking at changes and trends in the outside world through to looking internally at the business, and thinking about its strengths, the aspirations, the capabilities. These are my favourite business growth activities. I run business growth events, strategy and business planning events a lot, with all sorts of different organisations. These facilitation tools and techniques work with all sorts of business, large and small...2020-03-0618 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Facilitate Business Improvement EventsThe focus of my podcast here is on how to facilitate business improvement events. Business improvement is about efficiency, effectiveness, it is about the business operating as well as it possibly can. That means with no waste, no duplication, no quality issues. It is all running really smoothly. There are some deep techniques on business improvement, such as Lean and Six Sigma. I am not going to go into depth on those techniques, although what I am going to share with you today is consistent with those, and is in many ways inspired by them. I...2020-02-2819 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthFacilitation ideas for mission, vision and values workshopsOne of the members of my Idea Time for Workshop Facilitators Facebook Group asked me for some ideas for creative facilitation activities to use when you're facilitating groups to establish their vision, mission and values. Vision, mission and values really help connect people. They support a shared sense of purpose and direction and are important ingredients for collaborative team working and performance at organisation, team and project level. In this solo podcast, which was originally a Facebook live broadcast, I explain what vision, mission and values are and why they are important, and share some tech...2020-02-2117 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to Create Innovation Culture with Mark BrownThis podcast is all about innovation culture, and I am really pleased to welcome Mark Brown. Mark is Chief Executive of the Dolphin Index, a business that helps individuals and teams be more creative and shape more successful workplaces. Mark is also a published author on innovation and a real superstar in the innovation world. Mark explains how he is particularly interested in the work that referred to The Three Principles, which is a sort of DIY guide to having a quieter mind at work. He thinks that if you look at a lot of b...2020-02-1340 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthLeading Innovation with Phil MarslandThis podcast is all about leading innovation, and I am really pleased to be joined by Phil Marsland, founder and director of Blue Tree Consulting. We talk about one of my favourite books, The Writer’s Map by Huw Lewis-Jones, before discussing Phil’s leadership expertise. Phil says: “I have got all the certificates, the bells and whistles, however, through my experience, what I have learnt is that you need to be pragmatic, in terms of what organisations need. So, part of how I have positioned my business is just under four words. It is listeni...2020-02-1340 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthHow to accelerate and sustain profitable business growth - Paul SlaterPaul Slater, Founder and Director of leading business growth consultancy brands The Growth Shed and The Change Shed joins me on my Idea Time - www.ideatime.co.uk - podcast to discuss how businesses can achieve compound growth by combining key initiatives in specifically targeted areas. Big company thinking adapted for small companies Paul has led change and growth initiatives as a consultant working for brands such as Velux, Oakley and Estee Lauder. He has taken his recipe for success and adapted it to help small to medium sized businesses accelerate and sustain profitable growth, in a way...2019-12-1335 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthGoing the Distance with Apps - Anthony MainAnthony Main, Founder and Director of one of the UK’s top UK mobile app development companies, The Distance, joins me on my Idea Time - www.ideatime.co.uk - podcast to talk apps, business growth, entrepreneurship and more. The Distance specialises in creating intuitive bespoke mobile solutions for their customers on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. The company is one of the longest serving UK app developers, having celebrated its 10th birthday this year. Anthony and his team have been crafting apps since the first iPhone launched. Over the many years they have...2019-12-1324 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthMay King Tsang, The #FOMO Creator – How to create #FOMO for your eventsMay King Tsang, the #FOMO creator, joins me on my Idea Time - www.ideatime.co.uk - podcast to talk about events, Twitter and getting genuine engagement on social media. She shares how she creates buzz and excitement around events for delegates and people who are thinking about buying tickets in the future. May King started by live tweeting and then approached social media superstars and creatives Andrew and Pete to help them promote their Atomicon conference, to include Instagram and Facebook as well as Twitter. Her results spoke for themselves and since then sh...2019-12-1328 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthAndrew Palmer – Gravitas, presence and authenticity.Andrew Palmer, Founder and Director of leading communications consultancy The Gravitas Matrix, joins me on my Idea Time podcast to discuss how he left a senior corporate role to tap into his entrepreneurial ideas and start his own successful business. Self-confidence to build your authentic personal brand Andrew helps business leaders and entrepreneurs to stand out in a crowded and competitive market, leading to significant performance improvements by increasing confidence, impact and authority. On this podcast we have a great conversation about how to build your self-confidence and skills in networking, video and on-stage presentation to promote your p...2019-12-1333 min

Idea Time Innovation with Dr. Jo NorthDr. Jo North's Idea Time - with Andy Firth from AscensorAndy joins Dr. Jo North on her Idea Time podcast to discuss; his business, his BHAG and his experience with Idea Time. The danger of not changing your updating your strategy in an ever-changing, unpredictable world Businesses need to be agile and dynamic to move forward, whether it be with consumer demand, technological advances or Industry 4.0. At the start of Andy’s career after leaving university with a degree in Product Design Management, he started working for an engineering firm in Leeds. The firm paid for Andy to invest in his management training, where he com...2019-08-2127 min