CHAPTER 9Fellowships
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
—George Bernard Shaw
Have you ever been in a job where you had a great idea for a new product, service offering, or some other a significant way to create value but simply didn’t have the time, resources, or access to decision makers to have your idea heard? This situation can be frustrating for anyone. Sometimes employees get put in the wrong seats on the bus and could run circles around their managers. Other times, they simply have an idea but no channel to get support for it. It might even get to the point where the individual ends up leaving your company over the frustration of not being heard or given the opportunity to shine.
Creating a fellowship innovation channel can solve this issue and create tremendous value to your organization. Fellowships are meant to get at creative, innovative people in the business who have those “big ideas” but no avenue to bring them forth.
And for the individuals who consider submitting a fellowship proposal but are nervous, heed George Bernard Shaw’s advice—Go for it, or you’ll have regrets!
ANNOUNCING YOUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Imagine being at your company and seeing the e-mail or posting shown in Exhibit 9-1.
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