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Category Archives: News

‘Outsider’ view has benefits, in both life and in business

By Nancy Napier | June 4, 2013

 I don’t presume to understand what it’s like to be a refugee, forced out of a homeland to move thousands of miles away and start a new life. But I do have an idea of what it means to be an outsider, in lots of settings. And it’s something that more companies may want to cultivate in the future – this sense of outsiderness.

I grew up as an Army brat – lived in nine towns by age 17, went to eight schools, you’ve heard the routine. But for years, I didn’t tell people I’d grown up in the Army. My dad had been in Vietnam before people knew where it was and before the antiwar movement took off, but still, it just wasn’t the thing to talk about for a long time. So when people asked where I was from, they heard: “all over, moved around a lot as a kid.” (more…)

Some Companies Foster Creativity, Others Fake It

By Justin Brady | May 21, 2013

Good leadership spurs innovation. It’s not about gimmicks like free food and fun tools.

“Some companies crank out creative ideas one after the other and reap the benefits. Others struggle, always one step behind. Trying to copy what they think is the competition’s formula for success, they add flexible work hours, new technology, collaborative workspaces, fun tools, free child care and free food. (more…)

Three E Meetings | It’s Your Business – KTVB

Watch Nancy Napier in It’s Your Business on KTVB talk about tips on how to make meetings better using the three E’s.

Click the image below or follow the link to watch the full video. [click to watch full video]

Its-Your-Business

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The Business of Creativity

America’s entrepreneurial workforce isn’t just the result of a tough economy. Business, traditionally, has been considered a more rigid discipline — the polar opposite of liberal arts, a degree for left-brain thinkers. But with the influx of new businesses and entrepreneurs in the 21st century, it’s never been more evident that successful business graduates will need to know more than just finance and accounting. Today’s businessmen and women are tapping into their creative sides to develop and sustain profitable careers.

When Complaining is a Good Thing | CWB Blog

Nancy K. Napier is a blog contributor to Psychology Today! She will post in her ‘Creativity Without Borders’ blog approximately once every two weeks.

Make sure to so you don’t miss out!

Here’s a peek at her latest blog post:

Each year, I take a group of graduate students to Hanoi, Vietnam for a week’s residency. I’ve spent many years working in Hanoi and I know it’s not the easiest place to visit – it can be hot, noisy, chaotic and so very different for people who’ve not traveled much or to Asia. So before we left, I remind my colleagues of “the three C’s” that I try to use when I travel or go into some new situation:

  • Don’t compare
  • Don’t criticize
  • Don’t complain

If you travel, you know how easy it is to fall into these three traps.

70 year old Creativity Technique That Is Still Relevant Today

An interesting 70 year old book is gaining popularity again in the creativity and innovation fields.

“Around the late 1930′s, a creative Ad man named James Webb Young had a knock on his door from a manager who shared an epiphany that success in advertising comes from selling ideas not things. Despite the manager’s insight, he had one problem, his team didn’t know how to get ideas; they were stuck. So, they came to the successful James Young for ideas on how to get ideas. This encounter led to Young creating a little book called A Technique for Producing Ideas. I recently came across it and was impressed to find some advice that is as relevant today as 70 years ago.”

By Ben Weinlick | May 16, 2013

Statesman Publisher name United Way Chairman

By Statesman Staff | May 29, 2013

mikejungCongrats to Mike Jung!

Mike Jung, president and publisher of the Idaho Statesman, will serve a two-year term as chairman of the board of directors for United Way of Treasure Valley.

Jung has been on the board since April 2012, according to a Wednesday announcement. He takes the chairmanship over from Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney, who will remain a board member.

Culture Mismatch | It’s Your Business – KTVB

Watch Nancy Napier in It’s Your Business on KTVB talk about how organizational leaders can make sure their recruits or employees learn what their culture is about.

Click the image below or follow the link to watch the full video. [click to watch full video]

Its-Your-Business

(more…)

Six Components of a Great Corporate Culture

By John Coleman | May 6, 2013 | Harvard Business Review

The benefits of a strong corporate culture are both intuitive and supported by social science. According to James L. Heskett, culture “can account for 20-30% of the differential in corporate performance when compared with ‘culturally unremarkable’ competitors.” And HBR writers have offered advice on navigating different geographic cultures, selecting jobs based on culture, changing cultures, and offering feedback across cultures, among other topics.

But what makes a culture? Each culture is unique and myriad factors go into creating one, but I’ve observed at least six common components of great cultures. Isolating those elements can be the first step to building a differentiated culture and a lasting organization.

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Caffeine Pizza With Medical Benefits…Huh? | CWB Blog

Nancy K. Napier is a blog contributor to Psychology Today! She will post in her ‘Creativity Without Borders’ blog approximately once every two weeks.

Make sure to so you don’t miss out!

Here’s a peek at her latest blog post:

A pizza that has caffeine?  Or does it?  It must have caffeine if it peps up? And could it have some medical benefit as well?  And those numbers?  Is that the size of the pizza – maybe six centimeters wide?”

 HUH?

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