I shared my activities of workshops with a mix of an opera singer songs and success storytelling of projects in companies.
Pavel asked immediately: could you deliver one such workshop next week in my company close to Milan? No time to loose. We called from the airport Miroslava Casarova, the opera singer. Her immediate answer was: “I can in December, I am booked every evening at the opera by that time… but … maybe Wednesday I can find someone to replace me”. By coincidence, there was a flight leaving on Wednesday and returning to Prague at 5 pm the day after. Miroslava could be at the opera at 7pm on Thursday. The day after, Pavel confirmed that his headquarter validated the budget.
“Intuition and evidence“
For a quick decision without having doubts that it is a good one, 2 conditions must be met:
Surprise (we were not supposed to meet with Pavel),
Enthusiasm : it will be good for all, common goal (not “personal passion”).
We had also an immediate validation by the facts: opera singer, right flights and budget were available. “Doors” were opened.
Wednesday evening (week before Christmas) arrival to Milan. Pavel apologies because he did not have a room with a capacity of 140 people. Just a place on the shop floor. Immediately, employees suggested to build an “arena” with palettes for people to sit. Palettes were covered with plastique films to protect women’s tights. Employees were part of the show “they were building their ship”.
The next morning, when Miroslava had stood on the “palettes stage” her heels went through the plastic film. Few minute later, the stage was re-arranged and she did the opening with “Phantom of the opera” before the General Manager introduction. During all morning in between the success stories there were opera songs. Last was “Carmen” and Miroslava was singing in the middle of employees. A couple of them joined in : we were in Italy…
During the lunch employee were lining-up to bring ideas to the General Manager: “they were in”.
After Covid time, innovation will be even more crucial for the performance of the company than ever before. Collecting ideas from employees at all hierarchical levels is the key and will also ensure the “social performance”.
Catalysators for innovation
Opera / art removes barriers between people and opens them to creativity
Employee are part of the project
Success stories, also from other industries / companies
Meal open mouth for people to bring ideas