Microsoft – Innovation and Beyond

Microsoft launched new devices this week and all of them are awesome. Microsoft is riding on the success of Windows 10 to release these devices that do even more, as the Chief said “all the devices will empower individuals and business to achieve more” , these devices don’t fall short in any major categories, they not only have superior hardware, they also are aesthetically designed. Microsoft is back with a bang after the unsuccessful launches such as Vista and Windows 8. They innovated the Surface tablets, Lumia phone and launched first ever Microsoft Laptop. Although some haters will say it is just a juiced up Surface, it is not. There is a lot more design innovation and thought that went in building the amazing Microsoft Surface Book. If Microsoft has already done this why are even discussing the same things from the presentation, well before we get to what can be next, just a shout out to all the presenters (#Microsoft) all of them did an awesome job of launching the products.

So what can be next, one thing caught my interest, the continuum feature on the Lumia phones. The eco-system these products will create have led to numerous possibilities and I hope the HoloLens becomes less bulky to be used every day, the technology doesn’t support the reduction in size just yet but they are on the right path. The dock that was also shown in presentation is very cool and serves the purpose to reduce the wires on desk but what if we could be completely wireless or just one. I wish that phone is the only device we need, we already carry it everywhere and this continuum feature has opened the possibility of desktop interface though the phone.

Here’s the idea, everyone has heard of projectors and laser keyboards, what if we create a small device which could be battery powered for travel or hardwired for desktops, just one power cable to power the device. The shape should be small, may be shape of cube or anything artistic that will project on any hard surface from one lens and other lens will project the laser keyboard. The cube can host a small stereo speakers that can be used to stream sounds and also give feedback for typing (which can be muted by user). The user experience with minimalistic design can help people setup in office, airport, plane, bus or anywhere the user needs without having to plug in the phone to device. This can even go further in future with hologram technology but that’s years ahead, I would be happy just to come up with this device and help individuals do more with their phones and other devices. There are laser keyboards and projectors in market right now but they are not working for users, this can be built in a better way.

I hope that someone will pick the idea and build on it because there are infinite possibilities and numerous opportunities to improve user experience. It will be a leap ahead to make it work, I hope I get to see this device in next 5 years.

Are you well trained or well educated?

 Most interviewers strive to find a mix of education and training in an individual but this is not about HR. Years from now when the science of innovation is documented, we will have lifecycles and a roadmap to innovate, but until then we paint outside the lines and think out of the box to innovate.

Einstein quoted “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school”. Most people think education equals knowledge and knowledge equals power, not many will admit it but if you find someone graduating from Ivy league university, you automatically assume “wow” this person is smart. Einstein didn’t do so well in school and he ended up with mind-boggling theories that amaze people even today. Education doesn’t just mean the diploma or degree, it means power to imagine and to dream. (Quoting Einstein again)

Training is essential part of learning and perfecting a skill. Education and training are very different from each other. One cannot be a substitute for the other, even a ferocious tiger jumps on a stool in circus with the crack of a whip. We call the tiger well trained and not well educated. Education helps us break barriers, innovate and develop new ideas. Training helps us to build those dreams and ideas. Both training and education are needed to succeed. Yes it was a trick question, because one without the other won’t help in achieving success.

two + two = FIVE

Coming from a hospitality background, we were taught to keep the customers / clients happy and business will take care of itself. For hotels, the guests are priority, but to take the same ideology from management view, as a famous hotelier once said, your employees are your clients, keep them happy and business will take care of itself. We have so many tools today to measure and motivate employees succeed, most of them are simple arithmetic, proven employee engagement methods and if anyone can do it, what makes one organization stand out. A large online retailer was named #1 in customer service, it is also my favorite company but apart from my partial view to its greatness, they have ingrained customer satisfaction as their corporate culture and they are successful. As a HR partner, we get a wide view of organization, what has worked in past and more importantly failures, which are the best lessons learnt. Most employees fear failure but to instill “it is ok to fail” we need try something new to achieve innovation. There are roadblocks, struggles and lots of troubleshooting to innovate and bring a new process to things that people have been doing for ages.

Most employers want to see their employees do something extra or in addition to what is required, but unless we communicate and we create a culture to go above and beyond your normal job responsibilities, to achieve what I call : 2+2=5. The extra should not only include the bottom line for organization but should also boost employee morale, increase job satisfaction and should be something that will attract talent. Rather, than pushing employees to produce results , the employees should pull the whole organization to achieve the impossible. So, is your team achieving the impossible?