A Three Act Play in the Arizona Desert:
Innovation at IPI
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Act One. Our organization design and strategy had worked up to now – but we needed a plan and a framework for growth. Walking into that meeting room in Phoenix, we (IPI’s 10 partners and 8 associates) were hugely unsure of what we would become as a firm. And that was unsettling to say the least.
The founding partners shared a belief in the importance of collaborative innovation based on our convictions:
1) that people support what they create,
2) in the value of collective intelligence in designing together,
3) that the process of collaborative innovation is also a process of personal change.
Act Two: Like every great play, we had a storyline – a solid, strengths-based strategic planning agenda that kept us focused for 3 days. But the real magic was in the things that were NOT listed on the agenda.
Our Five Secret Ingredients
- An early and hotly debated decision by the equity partners to NOT go in with straw models/preconceived ideas.
- An intentional balance during the 3 days of information gathering and dialogue with periods of silent reflection.
- The use of “liberating structures” (such as Open Space and World Cafe) that supported emergence.
- Unwavering focus on the convening question: “How does IPI move forward in a way that most uplifts our principles and purpose? ”
- Great pre-meeting design of the agenda and expert facilitation.
Act Three: Together we focused on our purpose and passion to positively transform the lives of individuals, organizations, communities, and the world. Our outcome? Not only do we have a breakthrough set of fully supported strategic initiatives, but we are very excited to announce that during this meeting our eight associates decided to join IPI as full equity partners!!!!
Introducing our new partners! (click on a name to see a short bio)
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 Diane Carazas, Ashland, MA, USA
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 Jim Davy, Pennington, NJ, USA
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 Loretta Donovan, Yorktown Heights, NY, USA
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 Tim Fleming, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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 Lisa Hirsh, Boston, MA, USA
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 Dan Saint, Troutman, NC, USA
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 Bill Scott, Surrey, BC, Canada
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 Cheri Torres, Asheville, NC, USA
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 Christine Whitney Sanchez, Phoenix, AZ, USA |
So that’s our story. What about you? What’s your Innovation Agenda for the coming year?
As you think about the year ahead, what is the one innovation or change that will ensure your organization's success in 2011 and beyond?
We would love to hear what’s on your innovation agenda! Please send your responses to info@innovationpartners.com. We will share your responses in a coming newsletter.
“Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat” – Steve Jobs
New this February: Healing Conversations Now: Enhance Relationships with Elders and Dying Loved Ones, published by TAOS 
(http://www.taosinstitute.net/healing-conversations-now). This book, co-authored by Tony Silbert and Joan Chadbourne, is a compilation of inspiring stories and conversation starters about key aspects of this important time of life. Whether you are a health care provider of someone for whom this topic is personally relevant, we hope you will find this a powerful resource.
If you are curious about the new book, click below to watch a video conversation between Dr. Bill Thomas of RealCareTV and IPI partner Tony Silbert.
Check out the Axiom News story about IPI’s “Magical” journey of innovation. Axiom News is an innovative company that uses journalism to help organizations unlock the power of their stories to bring hope alive and create constructive change. Like IPI, Axiom News is a World Blu award winner!
Jen Hetzel Silbert has been busy in Newport, RI helping Social Venture Partners Rhode Island ready for its Change Accelerator launch, a social venture “incubator” program that provides much needed business support to social entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions to unmet social needs. CHANGE entrepreneurs get a $1000 fellowship, access to training workshops and a host of expert mentors/advisors, and an opportunity to pitch their ideas to a network of social investors.
Catherine McKenna and Joanne Daykin spoke at a January 2011 Infonex conference for Public Sector HR leaders in Ottawa, Canada. "Shifting conversations from problems to positive discourse" was a topic that created lively discussion among HR professionals who are presented with client problems daily!
Follow this link to an interesting article about some recent research on innovation at GE:
“GE Global Innovation Barometer” Identifies New Expectations and Parameters for Innovation in the 21st Century.
Join Bernard Mohr and Dick Axelrod on a free Plexus Institute webinar : Shrinking the Engagement Gap February 25, 2011 - 1pm eastern, 641-715-3300, 485743#.