GoFaxer Blog

What does it mean to innovate? Dictionary.com defines it as:

“to introduce something new; make changes in anything established.”

Is innovation ingrained in your business model? Although it’s a common buzz word, I think that innovation might actually be kind of rare. Most businesses are simply going through the motions, based one a few concepts that they hold firm to. Few, however, are willing to really change on a regular basis.

To make innovation a part of your company culture, you’re accepting a constant state of flux, not a comfortable state for most people and businesses.

For example, I have no doubt that fax machines are being sold to companies, businesses that know that there are new and better options through email fax that cost less and are more convenient. But out of a fear of change, the decision makers fail to innovate.

There’s a new book by Proctor and Gamble CEO A.G. Lafley and management consultant Ram Charan titled, The Game-Changer: How You Can Drive Revenue and Profit Growth with Innovation. When Lafley was hired to the big position he was a career company man, not the kind of guy that you would have thought would instill a culture of change. But he did.

And they needed it. In 2000 stock was plummeting in the troubled company. He reinvented the company and turned it’s performance around big time. He did it by pushing innovation as a core company philosophy. It’s sure to be a solid read for anyone interested in producing the same quality in their business.

I think it’s safe to bet that email faxing is pretty much a given in most big businesses. But what’s new? What’s ground breaking? What’s the future that small businesses can look to as an example?

Well, perhaps what’s new is actually old, according to former Southwest Airlines CEO James Parker. He built a successful airline during a huge downturn in the industry from 2001 to 2004. He did so by building a company culture of customer service that generated high profits.

He says in an article at BusinessWeek.com that CEOs spend a lot of time building up their high potential executives but not nearly enough energy building their front line managers. He also emphasizes the importance of putting strong people into good environments. He says that if you put good people into a bad place, they can become bad employees.

He says that leadership is training, and that the majority of that training needs to go into the front line management. It usually goes into the top-level leadership, and then you fail to execute where you need it the most.

I’m a big fan of Southwest. They’re the cheapest to fly, but they’re also one of the best in terms of quality. I’ve never had them lose a bag. Their customer service has always been top notch. After a disastrous trip back from Europe several years ago on a failing airline, I concluded to always travel Southwest whenever I could.