WEDA 2002 Governor's Conference - Highlights

Keynote speaker Dr. Robert J. Kriegel, one of the country's leading authorities on change and innovation, wrapped up the day in fine style with his interactive presentation titled, Don't compete, change the game.

Opening with a stretch break, Kriegel said, "No matter what you do, where you do it, or why you're doing it, you all have one thing in common - change."

Change creates challenges, but it also creates exciting opportunities. We need to stop playing today's game with yesterday's rules. Companies need to change with the times to survive.

Change-ready organizations and change-ready people rethink the rules of game, redefine the role of the customer, and are always looking to reinvent the game, Kriegel said.

Kriegel also focused on playing to win versus playing not to lose.

"Everywhere you look people are playing not to lose," said Kriegel. The companies that are doing well are building not cutting back, spending more not less. They are being more aggressive rather than less.

Kriegel made attendees question how they deal with change. Most people deal with change by working harder, faster and longer. According to Kriegel this is not the way to get ahead.

"Know your product and understand your customer better than anybody else. It's all about relationships, all about connections," said Kriegel.

He also stressed the importance of communication, creativity and challenging the old strategies. In the words of Sam Walton, "Break the rules."

"Challenge the old assumptions. Flip the rules around," said Kriegel.

How do you do that? Get rid of the sacred cows. Ask outsiders, beginners and the people actually talking to the customer to help you identify these sacred cows.

Kriegel said companies spend too much time on paperwork, email and meetings. "These things steal your time and make you work more than you should have to," he said.

Companies and organizations need to be innovative and think out of the box.

"It's not only thinking out of the box. It's looking out of the box," said Kriegel. We need to break out of old ways of thinking, break old habits and accept new ideas.

In closing Kriegel encouraged attendees to play to win.

"Take some risks, break some rules, kill some cows, chase your dreams and have a whole lot of fun!"