This document discusses creating an innovative communication environment for Christian organizations. It defines innovation as the combination of insight and invention to meet readers' needs. Innovation is needed to adapt to changing media landscapes and information-saturated worlds. The document provides examples of innovation, including rapid prototyping and using new platforms like YouTube. It also discusses barriers to innovation for non-profits and the importance of courage, obedience, and creating an atmosphere that encourages new ideas.

1. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Innovation in Communications
Applying Innovation to Christian
Communications

2. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
What is Innovation?
• What it isn’t
• Technical meanings
• The cult of innovation
• Legitimate innovation:
– The combination of insight and invention
• How this applies to Christian
Communications:
– Meeting readers needs, interests and
desires

3. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Innovation Pyramid
Many Incremental Quick Wins
And Continuous Improvements
Key New Ventures,
Prototypes and Projects
A
Few, Big
Strategic Bets
* Taken from Harvard Business School

4. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Why do we need to innovate?
• The consumer of information keeps
changing.
• The world of media keeps changing and
becoming more competitive – requiring
innovation
• We live in an information saturated world
that forces us to modify our methods
regularly

5. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Why do we need to innovate?
• We live in a world of doubts and spend our
lives searching for those truths that are
certain.
“If a man will begin with certainties,
he shall end in doubts; but if he
will be content to begin with
doubts he shall end in certainties.”
Sir Francis Bacon

6. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Spiritual Underpinnings
• The Story of Caleb (Numbers 13)
• Courage + Obedience = Peace
• This equation is key:
– Courage confronts the problem (Numbers 13)
– Obedience does the hard work (Joshua 14)
– Peace is the result of a honorable innovation
(Joshua 20)

7. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Creating an atmosphere
of innovation
• A few basic tactics:
– Encourage new ideas in your team
– Develop listening skills
– Hold staff meetings regularly
– Pray and trust the Holy Spirit
– Keep the “main thing the main thing”

8. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Innovative atmosphere cont.
• The roles of leaders
– Be authentic and transparent
– Create a dynamic atmosphere
– Value balance in life
– Value time away
– Be patient as you lead

9. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Stories and Lessons #1
• Research your audience
– Hasbro: Learning through playing
– McDonalds: Learning from customers

10. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Stories and Lessons #2
• Rapid Prototyping
– Don’t think forever / Don’t act hastily
– Think clearly and act quickly
• Rapid Prototyping Provides:
– Quick validation of an idea
– Flexibility of budget
– Information on what needs to change
– Results to share with management
• Examples:
– Direct mail or self mailer
– Security Model for Communications

11. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Stories and Lessons #3
• Innovations in Publishing:
– Computer
– Graphics
– Fulfillment software
– Editorial Innovations:
• Shortening the interview
• Beyond the devotional
• Tackle controversial issues

12. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Winners and Losers
• Losers
– Radical editorial changes
– A defeatist mentality
• Winners
– A journal for missionaries
– Newsletters

13. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Stories and Lessons #4
• Problem: Who wants to watch that old
ministry video?
• Urgency: We need to engage new
audiences with our message
• Innovation: YouTube
• Holistic Innovation: HCJB Global
YouTube Page as a distribution
mechanism for global distributed staff

14. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment

15. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment

16. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment

17. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
MinistryTube Directory
http://ministrytube.blogspot.com

18. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Barriers to Innovation
• In nonprofits we have some significant
barriers to innovation:
– Barrier 1: Lack of value for our people
– Barrier 2: Dramatic swings in decision making
– Barrier 3: Capacity for risk
– Barrier 4: Suspicion of creativity
– Barrier 5: Transition in our funding models

19. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
Reflections on
Mission’s Legacy
A history of faithful innovation

20. Creating an Innovative Communication Environment
www.innovationinmission.com
Participate in the
Conversation Today!