Innovation2 min read
Why Your Best Innovation Ideas Might Come From Nature
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
CEO / Innovation Instigator
Stephen Shapiro
leading keynote speaker, author, and advisor on innovation, Stephen Shapiro has developed a proven approach for increasing speed, reducing risk, and improving innovation ROI tenfold.
For any organization that requires rapid and predictable change – from developing new products/services to creating new business models – his challenge-centered philosophy accelerates innovation.
Stephen has two decades of practical innovation experience, including a 15-year tenure at Accenture where he created and led a 20,000-person innovation practice.
Shapiro turn heads, opens minds, and captivates audiences with his provocative results-focused content.
He has shared his message with in over 50 countries.
His work has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, SUCCESS Magazine, CNBC, ABC News, TLC, and USA Network
37 articles · Page 1 of 2
Strategy2 min read
Why You're Missing an Opportunity for Innovation--and It's Huge
Innovation is a process that starts with an important problem or opportunity and ends with something that adds value. It is not just about how many ideas you come up with, which is often equated with creativity.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Strategy3 min read
Why Thinking Outside of the Box Can Actually Reduce Your Creativity
The issue is not the expansiveness of your thinking. You are looking in the wrong place.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Culture3 min read
Why It's Time to Become Your Company's Chief Laziness Officer
The goal is not to do more with less. You should strive to do less and get more.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Strategy3 min read
When to Follow 'Best Practices'--and When to Ignore Them
the five best practices that nearly all successful people have in common. I printed these practices on a sheet of paper and invited 10 successful people in the audience to join me onstage.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Practice3 min read
Want to Ask Better Questions? Try This Powerful Exercise
I've asked this question of thousands of executives over the years, and no one has ever gotten the correct solution immediately (unless they've heard it before).
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Strategy3 min read
To Sell Your Product, Stop Trying to Sell Your Product
"What's the best way to sell innovation?" This was a question I was recently asked by a client
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Innovation3 min read
To Learn Innovation, Study the Linguistics
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Culture3 min read
There is No Correlation Between Happiness and Resolution Setting
The basic idea of an end-of-the year evaluation is a good one. It is helpful to reflect in order to improve.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Culture3 min read
The one Type of Game That Kills Creativity and innovation
Games can be a useful tool for enhancing creativity. They make work more fun, they reduce stress, and they get people in action.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Innovation3 min read
The Power of the Innovation Retreat Week
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Strategy2 min read
The Ignorance of the Masses Cancels Out the Knowledgeable Minority
The downside of many crowdsourcing initiatives is something called "mobsourcing." This is where the vocal few crowd out the rest of the responses
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Strategy3 min read
The Highly Effective, Counterintuitive Way to Stumble Upon Your Next Brilliant Idea
The "bad idea" concept doesn't just apply to complex technical problems like health and space travel. Imagine you are looking to sell more raisins.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Culture3 min read
The Brain Rewards You, Even When You Are Wrong. This Is Bad for Innovation (and Life)
The Brain Rewards Being Correct, Even When It's Wrong
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Practice3 min read
The Best Way to Boost Your Performance Is Not What You Think
When rules change, "efficiency" (ease) might drop but "quality" (relevance) could increase.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Enablers2 min read
Technology Is a Great Enabler to Innovation, Except When It Isn't
Brainstorming sessions are often the lifeblood of many corporate innovation efforts. But do they work?
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Leadership4 min read
Strong Corporate Culture Can Kill Recruiting
The Leader May Drive Personality
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Practice3 min read
Stop Worrying About the Novelty of Your Ideas
Has there ever been a new creation that could not linked back to a previous innovation? Although new ideas need to start somewhere, I struggle to find an example.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Strategy3 min read
Sometimes Your Seemingly Great Ideas Can Lead to Terrible Results
The key, of course, is to make sure that people are aware they are in a pickpocket area.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Culture2 min read
Signs 3D Printing Is Finally Living Up to Its Hype
The best word to describe the current 3D printing capabilities in the UPS stores is "cute." You can make plastic toys, wrenches, iPhone covers, or money clips.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Strategy3 min read
Service Businesses Offer 3 Types of Products. The Most Powerful Ones Are Tools-Here's Why
When thinking about the products your business can offer to customers, I find it helpful to categorize them into three buckets: "tell me," "enable me," and "do it for me." The second of these--"enable me"--is the best source of leverage.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Culture3 min read
Scientists Warn to Beware of Finding Problems When They Don't Exist
The big safety violations would be noticed. As you begin working on the problem and the number of incidences drops, you may subconsciously redefine what is a safety issue.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Culture3 min read
Price Drives the Perception of Value
The plan was to send the client a blank invoice after I gave a speech, and they would pay "what they thought it was worth."
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
Strategy4 min read
Is Your Writing Style Color-by-Numbers or Puzzle-Assembly?
The outline for my first book had nine chapters each with an average of seven headers per chapter and 4 supporting points per header for an 80,000 word book.
Stephen Shapiro · 29 April 2025
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