Innovation Junkies Podcast

Tune in to hear from innovative leaders sharing their expertise on driving organizations forward

Filter By Topic

Subscribe Here:

Filter By Topic

1.16 The War For Talent

The Jeffs discuss finding the right talent & growing the existing talent in your company. Topics include: how to plan your search for new talent, the two key pillars of sustained strategic growth, & the value of interns.

Go to episode »

June 28, 2021

1.15 Ben Brenton on Fearless Innovation

The Jeffs chat with Ben Brenton, Chief Innovation Officer of Snap-On. Check out what they say about: the different categories of innovation happening at Snap-On, innovating during COVID & how those innovations can stick, & go-to tools for innovation.

Go to episode »

June 21, 2021

1.14 Barry Brady on Innovations in Pediatric Healthcare

The Jeffs talk with Barry Brady, Chief Operations Officer at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute. Don’t miss it as they discuss: what the culture of innovation looks like at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, how staff, researchers, doctors & parents submit ideas for innovation, & recognizing & building on successes.

Go to episode »

June 14, 2021

1.13 BONUS: Enterprise University Collaborations

The Jeffs dig into how enterprises can interact & collaborate with universities in research, sponsor programs & tech transfer. Topics include: why enterprises & universities should work together, how enterprises can work with a local university tech transfers for research & innovation growth, & collaboration around submitting for federal funding.

Go to episode »

June 10, 2021

1.12 Innovation and Client Relationships with Doug Weaver

The Jeffs chat with Doug Weaver, founder and CEO of Upstream Group. Can’t-miss topics include:, “Ecosystem leadership” & how innovation happens in sales departments, the sales process of checkup, diagnosis, prescription & qualification/closing, & what separates successful sales teams from ones that struggle.

Go to episode »

June 7, 2021

1.11 Angela Grayson on Intellectual Property & Innovation

The Jeff talk with Angela Grayson, founder and CEO of Precipice IP. Don’t miss this episode as they dig into: trade offs between protecting the software source code & patenting it, common elements of clients who patent to innovate, & what defines “inventorship” & the right to be listed on a patent.

Go to episode »

May 31, 2021

1.10 BONUS: Innovation During A Pandemic

The Jeffs dig into how you can learn from some of the innovations that were created during the pandemic. Topics include: ecommerce & how to reach customers where they are, zoom & omni-channel pivoting, & rethinking travel & reusing travel money elsewhere in the company to meet business goals.

Go to episode »

May 27, 2021

1.09 Ross DeVol on Innovation in the Heartland

The Jeffs chat with Ross DeVol, President & CEO of Heartland Forward. Check out what they have to say about: the role of university talent & technology commercialization in research & innovation, best innovation practices for applied & teaching universities, & how university leaders can begin workforce development & commercialization tech transfer growth.

Go to episode »

May 24, 2021

1.08 Will Hurst on Technology Innovations

The Jeffs talk with Will Hurst, an innovator with 30+ years’ experience. Don’t miss this episode as they discuss: what works & doesn’t work for innovation with mid to large companies, characteristics & environments of successful innovators, & what larger enterprises need to know to start innovating.

Go to episode »

May 17, 2021

1.07 BONUS: Making Innovation a Core Activity

The Jeffs talk about sharing the keys to making innovation a core activity. Can’t-miss topics include: the role of celebrating & storytelling in an organization, why recognizing failure matters as you innovate, & how to adopt a framework or methology for innovation.

Go to episode »

May 13, 2021

2.32 Digital Readiness: Navigating the Challenges of Digital Transformation

The Jeffs are discussing Digital Readiness–the final domain of the GrowthDX solution stack. They chat about bridging the gap between where you are & where you want to be, only implementing systems that will actually boost efficiency, and the importance of having up-to-date cybersecurity.

March 20, 2023

2.31 AI Tools and the Future of Innovation

The Jeffs are talking about AI & its impact on innovation & the modern workforce. They discuss Chat GPT, Open AI, DALL-E, & other AI platforms, the untapped potential of AI to increase productivity & efficiency and using AI to help your team operate at their top-of-license.

March 13, 2023

2.30 Paradigm-Shifting Resources for Innovators

The Jeffs discuss different resources that they use to deepen their understanding of innovation. They chat about their favorite books and their impact on the Jeffs’ views on innovation, the relevance of these resources to the modern business environment, their new book, The Innovator’s Field Guide.

March 6, 2023

2.29 The Execution Phase of Innovation

In today’s episode, the Jeffs talk about how to implement innovative solutions. They chat about creating the right climate for sustained organizational change, empowering your team while promoting accountability and how to create buy-in internally and externally in your organization.

February 27, 2023

2.28 The Design Phase of Innovation

The Jeffs are talking about the transition from the Challenge Sprint to Design Sprint. They talk about infusing human-centered design or design thinking into your problem solving, the importance of having a massive value mindset to overcome the status quo and developing a minimally viable product before you invest resources into development.

February 20, 2023

2.27 The Challenge Phase of Innovation

The Jeffs are talking about building a foundation of innovation in businesses. They discuss the importance of identifying your business’s problem statement, how to quantify the problem your business is trying to solve and using the lean canvas process & performing customer discovery.

February 13, 2023

2.26 Innovation Readiness

The Jeffs are talking about how to use innovation as a competitive weapon. They chat about recognizing all innovative efforts, not just the “successful” ones, establishing appropriate KPIs and storytelling to build innovation that matters and avoiding box-checking and innovation theatre.

February 6, 2023

2.25 Innovative vs. Innovation Leadership

In their last episode on Leadership Effectiveness, the Jeffs are comparing Innovative vs. Innovation Leadership. They discuss looking for new breakthroughs and disruptive ways to grow an organization, creating a culture where people feel they have room to innovate, and encouraging idea generation and accepting early failures.

December 26, 2022

2.24 Situational Leadership

The Jeffs talk about different leadership styles and how to apply them. They discuss authoritarian, democratic, and laissez-faire styles, when to implement the different styles and communicating with your team to use the most effective leadership method.

December 19, 2022

2.23 Right Leaders in the Right Place

The Jeffs talk about the importance of having the right leaders in an organization. They chat about performing anonymous team assessments, accepting feedback with an attitude of non-attribution and non-retribution, and being willing to move someone to a different seat in the organization.

December 12, 2022

2.22 Balancing Results & Relationships in Your Business

The Jeffs discuss leadership vs management and why they both matter. They dive into balancing results & relationships, the importance of feedback from peers & direct reports and what it takes to be an effective, sustainable leader.

December 5, 2022

2.21 Feedback Without Fallout

Jeff S. shares an experience that transformed the way he approaches hard conversations. He talks about a framework for giving feedback, the importance of using “I” or “me” messages instead of “you” and owning your observations.

November 28, 2022

2.20 Building Supportive Teams

In part two of their conversation, Jeff S. & Glenn Crockett talk about teamwork they discuss why you need core values, the importance of being outward focused and making sure you have the right people in the right seats.

November 21, 2022

2.19 Seven Characteristics of High Performance Teams

The Jeffs talk about how to ensure your people are working together to produce the best outcomes for your customers. They discuss practices & attitudes of world-class team leaders, the importance of a common mission and how to foster communication, respect, and encouragement.

November 14, 2022

2.18 Submission Over Assertion

Jeff S & Glenn Crockett discuss leadership effectiveness. They dive into traits of true leadership, the importance of accountability and staying connected in your business.

November 7, 2022

2.17 KPIs & Scorecards

The Jeffs talk about how to assess the fuel that powers your economic engine. They discuss Key Performance Indicators and how to use them, the importance of focusing on the vital few over the insignificant many and establishing systems and eliminating guesswork in your leadership.

October 31, 2022

2.16 Five Questions You Should Be Asking About Your Business

The Jeffs talk about core business processes. They dive into why you need clear documentation of all critical processes, the importance of having systems for onboarding new clients or customers & establishing clarity on the limit of authority for team-members.

October 24, 2022

2.15 Systems for Customer & Employee Feedback

The Jeffs talk about increased turnover rates in customers and employees. They discuss how to create systems to get consistent customer & employee feedback, the importance of action plans following feedback, leadership by walking around & regular one-on-ones.

October 17, 2022

2.14 Critical & Consistent Channels of Communication

The Jeffs discuss the importance of prioritizing communication. They talk about avoiding common failures linked to poor meeting practices, establishing weekly standup meetings to go over projects and needs, the importance of celebrating & recognizing wins in an organization.

October 10, 2022

2.13 Right People, Right Place, Right Priorities

The Jeffs talk about organizational effectiveness. They dive into getting the right people in the right seats. How to motivate your team to pursue excellence & The importance of having clear priorities.

October 3, 2022

2.12 The Three “Who” Questions of Organizational Structure

The Jeffs talk about best practices of organizational structure. They discuss the importance of having a clearly defined reporting hierarchy, not forcing high performers into unqualified or ill-fitting leadership roles, & what it means to be empowered vs. autonomous.

September 26, 2022

2.11 Five Key Focuses to Keep Your Business On Track

The Jeffs talk about five practices that will keep your business focused. They dive into the importance of discipline & how to avoid the “squirrel” mindset, developing your message to target the right people, & creating a clear mission, vision, & set of values.

September 19, 2022

2.10 Five Factors That Fuel Culture

The Jeffs talk about the necessity of having a healthy workplace culture. They discuss identifying & understanding your organization’s culture, what causes cultural shifts within an organization, & the importance of defining & adhering to core values.

September 12, 2022

2.09 Four Building Blocks That Drive Individual High Performance

The Jeffs talk about expectations & how to drive high performance in your organization. They chat about individual competency measured against clearly defined & accepted roles, defining performance standards & setting expectations, & implementing accountability across an organization.

September 5, 2022

2.08 Four Practices to Streamline Decision-Making in Your Organization

The Jeffs talk about what it takes to improve the decision-making process in your organization. They dive into having a culture of empowerment instead of a culture of autonomy, minimizing unnecessary policies & procedures, and the Four Cs of decision-making & how to apply them to your business.

August 29, 2022

2.07 Three Critical Measures That Will Bring Your Vision to Fruition

“In this episode, the Jeffs talk about organizational targets and goals and how they relate to your mission, vision, and values. They discuss the foundation of sustainable, strategic growth, long-term targets vs. short-term goals and why they matter, and how to make your goals and targets measurable.

August 22, 2022

2.06 Four Things You Need for Organizational Unity

In this episode, the Jeffs talk about what it takes to keep everyone in your organization rowing in the same direction. They discuss the difference between your mission & your vision, how to get buy-in from everyone in your organization, and the importance of defined core values.

August 15, 2022

2.05 Four Keys to Creating a Client-Focused Sales Culture

“In this episode, the Jeffs talk about four keys to creating a client-focused sales culture. They dive into establishing a process and a regular cadence to review sales performance, defining and refining the culture of your organization, and how to address and swiftly correct recurring issues.

August 8, 2022

2.04 Seven Critical Practices of a High Performance Sales Team

In this episode, the Jeffs deep-dive into what it takes to be a successful salesperson. They talk about how to deliver a compelling presentation, conditioning your clients to generate referrals, and the seven critical practices of a high performance sales team.

August 1, 2022

2.03 Four Ways to Get the Most From Your Marketing

In this episode, the Jeffs talk about target markets & why they matter. They discuss the importance of knowing your ideal customer, utilizing third-party data to inform your messaging, and four things you must do to get the most from your marketing investments.

July 25, 2022

2.02 Three Steps to Improve Client Engagement

The Jeffs talk about the client engagement process and how to refine it in your business. They discuss maximizing lifetime value and enhancing the customer journey, the importance of developing a documented engagement process, & three steps you can do to improve client engagement with your business.

July 18, 2022

2.01 Four Simple Ways to Stand Out Among Your Competition

The Jeffs are back with a new season! In this first episode of season two, they chat about The Unique Value Proposition and why it’s important, discovering your target market, & four simple things you can do to help your business stand out.

July 11, 2022

1.74 Dr. Thomas Graham on Mission-Driven Innovation

Dr. Thomas Graham, Chief Innovation Officer of Kettering Health, joins the Jeffs to share insights about building a culture of innovation in organizations, clinical-driven innovation vs. research-driven innovation, and the future of innovation in the medical industry.

June 20, 2022

1.73 When Your Team Loses Top Talent

The Jeffs address how to handle the departure of an “A” player from your team. They discuss prospecting for talent, how to ensure a smooth transition, & the importance of caring for the person, not their role.

June 6, 2022

1.72 Great Leaders Are Great Coaches

The Jeffs talk about characteristics of good leaders & coaches. They chat about constructive criticism and feedback, training up future leaders, & the importance of individualized coaching.

May 30, 2022

1.71 Ben Pryor on Innovation in Hospitality

Ben Pryor, of SpotOn joins Jeff Standridge to discuss the democratization of technology in the hospitality industry. They discuss how SpotOn helps small & mid-sized companies grow, innovating the employee & customer experience, and the future of innovation in hospitality.

May 23, 2022

1.70 Lucinda Foss on Innovating the Consumer Experience

Lucinda Foss of Narvar joins the Jeffs to discuss streamlining consumers’ journey through problem solving & innovation. They discuss meeting consumers’ needs, staying curious in your problem solving, & reverse logistics & how to streamline the process.

May 16, 2022

1.69 Dr. Laborie on Optimization in Critical Industries

Dr. Francois Laborie of Cognite shares his expertise on innovating business models to optimize production processes. He and the Jeffs discuss cybersecurity in critical industries, the role of data in sustainability practices, & autonomy & the future of heavy industries.

May 9, 2022

1.68 BONUS: Strategic Planning with Balanced Scorecards

The Jeffs chat about strategic growth planning & using the balanced scorecard to improve your business. They dive into the four pillars of the balanced scorecard, key performance indicators (KPIs) & how to identify them for your organization, & measuring growth & efficiency in your business.

May 5, 2022

1.67 HR Sucks But It Doesn’t Have To, With Annissa Desphande

Annissa Deshpande talks about the importance of HR in leading businesses & organizations. She & the Jeffs chat about how to find & keep talent in the workplace, modernizing HR departments & why you should do it, & the importance of a strong & healthy workplace culture.

May 2, 2022

1.66 Matt Waller on Organizational Values

Matt Waller, of the University of Arkansas, joins the Jeffs to talk about relationship, strategy, & culture within organizations. They dive into the importance of core values for organizational health, developing strategy & its effect on culture, & the enrollment cliff & how to keep students interested & involved in higher-ed.

April 25, 2022

1.65 Chandos Quill on Strategy and Development in a New Organization

Chandos Quill of Adstra Data, shares her knowledge of strategy and development. She and the Jeffs dive into acclimating to a new organization, how to get brutal honesty from members of your organization, and working relationships in a virtual workforce.

April 18, 2022

1.64 BONUS: The Power of Innovation Junkie

The Jeffs reflect on specific ways Innovation Junkie has helped clients. They share how to stay in line with more advanced companies, why organizations should harvest their intellectual property & commercialize it, and what clients can expect from Innovation Junkie in the future.

April 14, 2022

1.63 Mike Vermillion on Prioritizing Customer Experience

Mike Vermillion of J.D. Power and Associates joins the Jeffs to talk about the importance of customer experience and Net Promoter Score (NPS). They unpack what NPS is and how organizations can deploy it, the connection between company culture and customer experience, and innovations that will change the customer journey.

April 11, 2022

1.62 Erika Andersen’s Change Arc

Erika Andersen, author & founding partner of Proteus International, joins the Jeffs to share her model for helping organizations go through change. You’ll hear what people experience during change, how to challenge self-talk and make your organization more adaptable to change, and when and how to change the culture of an organization.

April 4, 2022

1.61 Houston Davis on Transformative Leadership in Higher Education

Houston Davis, President of UCA, joins the Jeffs to discuss the vitality of transformative leadership in higher education. They dive into the role universities play in economy and workforce development, how to get people in your organization on board with change, and impediments to innovation in an organization.

March 28, 2022

1.60 BONUS: Inflation Tactics

The Jeffs discuss practical business strategies for dealing with inflation. They dig into how businesses should look at inflation, why constraints lead to innovation and how companies should assess their competitive position.

March 24, 2022

1.59 Tim Creasey on the Workplace of the Future

The Jeffs chat with Tim Creasey, Chief Innovation Officer at Prosci. They discuss the digital transformation of the workplace, finding the right balance between working in-person and virtually, and forced prioritization and resilience brought on by the pandemic.

March 21, 2022

1.58 Stacy Sherman on Customer Experience

Stacy Sherman, the founder of DoingCXRight, joins the Jeffs to share her knowledge on customer experience. They explore the “moment of truth” in customer experience, how you can add value to your business through CX, and the differences in CX between B2C and B2B companies.

March 14, 2022

1.57 Paul LeBlanc on How Innovation Leads to Growth in Higher Education

Paul LeBlanc, President of SNHU and author of Students First: Access, Equity, and Opportunity in Higher Education, joins the Jeffs to discuss how innovation led to significant growth at SNHU. Topics Include: providing students with social mobility and economic opportunity, why Innovation and Leadership are Inseparable for universities, changes that traditional academic leaders should consider.

March 7, 2022