| by Dr. Howard Greisdorf, UniFocus In today’s fast-paced global market environment, the only commodity an organization possesses that keeps it from falling behind the competition or failing to survive is imagination. When new hires are brought on board, comfort is normally gained from their ability to successfully complete day-to-day assigned tasks; but frustration quickly sets in when managers realize that those assigned tasks are outmoded, outdated, or no longer in the market mainstream. Executives, managers, and line level employees without imagination are simply “treading water” as new market demands pass in front of them and their modes and methods of operation can’t deal with the changes because they didn’t see them coming or are too slow to envision the consequences.
People with imagination don’t always follow the rules, maintain the status-quo or focus on details. However, those same people are never at a loss for ideas, can adopt change at a moment’s notice, and are quick to abandon what doesn’t work by seizing upon alternative solutions. Imaginative people run imaginative organizations. Imaginative organizations set the trends, instead of following them.
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All organizations and departments within them possess a level of imagination. The degree to which that imagination is put to use generally reflects your position within that organization or within the marketplace in general. Take the following assessment to determine how you could improve the level of imagination in your organization:
Based on the above assessment, and your candid responses, any less than ten responses in the “Regularly” column would suggest that improvement in the imagination quotient of your organization could stand some bolstering in order to compete effectively in this chaotic, fast moving, quickly changing 21st century.
From a hiring and career path perspective, those organizations that encourage and promote imaginative
thinking are the ones that can envision their own future and how to bring it to fruition. Without imagination, we can only look to the past, and assume the future to be much the same. In the hospitality industry, it’s all about the “guest experience.” Imagination through product or service can make that experience unforgettable.
Reprinted from FocusEd, Summer 2005 edition.
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