Recycling is an important part of corporate responsibility. Recycle paper. Recycle soda cans. What about recycling ideas?
I am sure you’ve heard such phrases in your organization. Perhaps you are fond of saying such words yourself.
“How did we do it last year?”
“Can you create a template for us all to use?”
“How are they doing it in New York?”
“Let’s pull out last month’s agenda as a starting point”
“She did such a great job a last years event, do you think she would be willing to speak again?”
“How did we structure the contract last time?
Benefits of Recycling
Recycling ideas and processes…
- Saves time
- Is easy
- Creates consistency
- Provides structure
- Leverages best practices
- Prevents exceptions
- ?
Downsides of Recycling
Recycling also…
- Squashes creativity
- Drives conformity
- Assumes one size fits all
- Is boring
- Reduces the need to ask questions
- May not be enough
- Prevents exceptions
- ?
4 Questions To Help You Decide When to Recycle vs. Reinvent
Consider what is needed most now (stability, continuity, efficiency or creativity, breakthrough thinking, empowerment)?
- What are the benefits/drawbacks of the current approach?
- Are there certain rules that must be followed (compliance, legal) ( a template may hit the spot)
- How important is the buy-in from the team (involving them in the reinvention may help)
- Is someone already doing this really well (may be time to adopt a best practice)?