Episode 31
How to think outside of your own experiences
Innovation Unlocked: Industry Leaders Share Secrets
Join us for an insightful conversation with Terry Barnhart, an expert in operational, cultural, and innovation transformations at Novartis Global Organization Development team. With a career dedicated to improving how organizations function, Terry provides an in-depth look into the mechanisms of innovation and learning.
In this episode, you will discover:
Unlocking Organizational Potential: Learn how to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration to drive organizational success.
- The Power of Skill Stacking: Understand the advantages of diverse skill sets and how they contribute to unique perspectives and better problem-solving.
- Strategic Thinking Techniques: Gain insights on methodologies to think critically and integrate innovations across various fields.
- Fail Fast Philosophy in Pharma: Explore how to implement the “fail fast” approach within the stringent environment of pharmaceutical development.
- Breaking Mental Barriers: Discover the importance of challenging existing mental models to pave the way for groundbreaking innovations.
- Effective Knowledge Sharing: Understand the best practices for capturing and using knowledge to drive continuous improvement.
- Fostering Continuous Learning: Learn about the importance of creating an ecosystem that encourages constant learning and adaptation.
Terry’s passion for seeing people thrive in their roles and his commitment to innovative thinking will provide you with actionable strategies to enhance your organizational development.
Key Learnings
The Importance of Organizational Ecosystems:
By understanding the concept of organizational ecosystems, leaders can develop a more holistic approach to fostering innovation. Terry Barnhart emphasizes that innovation isn’t just about individual brilliance but involves the collaborative efforts of various teams and departments. Recognizing this interconnectedness can lead to streamlined processes and quicker routes to market for new products.
Embracing a Diverse Skill Stack:
Barnhart discusses the value of having employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences, known as a “skill stack.” This diversity encourages cross-functional collaboration and innovative thinking. By promoting a variety of skillsets within an organization, companies can enhance creativity and develop solutions that are more robust and innovative.
Overcoming Mental Models:
One of the recurring themes in the episode is the challenge of breaking out of established mental models to foster innovation. Barnhart highlights the importance of questioning existing beliefs and encouraging a mindset of constant learning and adaptation. This approach allows organizations to remain agile and better prepared to tackle future challenges and changes in the indust
Terry Barnhart
Terry Barnhart
Organizational transformation executive
“Internal personal diversity is important as well. The ability to think in different regimes makes it easier… So one of the things that we do actually is force people to think outside of their own box.”
Show Notes:
In this episode of the Mind the Innovation Leadership Podcast, host Sannah Vinding sits down with Terry Barnhart, an expert in delivering operational, cultural, and innovation transformations for multinational companies. Currently part of Novartis Global Organization Development team, Terry passionately discusses how fostering a conducive environment for innovation can lead to groundbreaking advancements in the pharmaceutical industry.
Terry shares his expertise on organizational development, emphasizing the importance of creating a collaborative ecosystem and building a company culture that nurtures creativity and continuous improvement. The conversation explores the concept of “skill stacks” and how diverse experiences can enhance critical thinking and innovation. Terry highlights the significance of learning from different industries and pushing beyond mental models to inspire change and drive success.
The episode also tackles the challenges of failing fast in the pharma world, knowledge sharing within large organizations, and the necessity of breaking down barriers to achieve true innovation. Listeners will gain valuable insights into leadership, the role of effective storytelling in driving transformation, and the continual pursuit of pushing boundaries to achieve remarkable outcomes.
Tune in to this engaging discussion and discover how to think outside the box and foster a culture of innovation within your organization.
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