Out Think

We ve entered a new era. Call it the age of imagination, ideation, conceptualization, creativity, innovation take your pick. Creativity, mental flexibility, and collaboration have displaced one-dimensional intelligence and isolated determination as core ingredients of competitive advantage. But these 21st century methods and mindsets needed to drive innovation are only found by tapping into the discretionary levels of passion and initiative within us. This is where Out Think leadership comes in. Out Think presents big ideas along with actionable advice to drive unique value and innovation in today s chaotic marketplace. In each chapter a key idea, behavior, or mindset shift is discussed. The shift is illustrated through proprietary interviews with business leaders conducted by the author. Techniques are described to show how the shift or idea can be implemented, with real-world examples. Assessments, exercises, and actionable messaging are highlighted throughout the book. While some books address the changing economic landscape and the challenges of the creative age, Out Think is unique in the author s unparalleled access, spanning more than a decade, to executives and thought-leaders who are, in fact, making a measurable difference. Through interviews and collaboration with these individuals, Hunter has assembled insights, stories, and actionable take-aways, with an emphasis on results that can drive the change that leaders want and need in their organizations.

We've entered a new era. Call it the age of imaginationideation, conceptualization, creativity, innovation--take yourpick. Creativity, mental flexibility, and collaboration havedisplaced one-dimensional intelligence and isolated determinationas core ingredients of competitive advantage. But these 21stcentury methods and mindsets needed to drive innovation are onlyfound by tapping into the discretionary levels of passion andinitiative within us. This is where Out Think leadership comes in.Out Think presents big ideas along with actionable advice todrive unique value and innovation in today's chaoticmarketplace. In each chapter a key idea, behavior, or mindset shiftis discussed. The shift is illustrated through proprietaryinterviews with business leaders conducted by the author.Techniques are described to show how the shift or idea can beimplemented, with real-world examples. Assessments, exercises, andactionable messaging are highlighted throughout the book.While some books address the changing economic landscape and thechallenges of the creative age, Out Think is unique in theauthor's unparalleled access, spanning more than a decade, toexecutives and thought-leaders who are, in fact, making ameasurable difference. Through interviews and collaboration withthese individuals, Hunter has assembled insights, stories, andactionable take-aways, with an emphasis on results that can drivethe change that leaders want and need in their organizations.

Foreword xiIntroduction 1Chapter 1 Marketquake: Moving beyond Arrested Decay 5Chapter 2 Trust: Establish the Engine of Leadership 29Chapter 3 Inquiry: Provoke with Questions, Not Answers 45Chapter 4 Exploration: Go to the Woodshed 69Chapter 5 Aspiration: Dream Well--You May Find YourselfThere 89Chapter 6 Edge: Embrace New Kinds of Risk 107Chapter 7 Connection: Collaborate to Innovate 125Chapter 8 Mash-up: Borrow Brilliance 149Chapter 9 Action: Get Moving or Accept the Consequences 173Chapter 10 Signature: Make It Your Own 189Chapter 11 Purpose: Connect with "Why" 203Chapter 12 Sustaining the Innovative Mindset 221Notes 231Bibliography 243Acknowledgments 253About the Author 255Index 257