Innovative People Solutions works hard to embody each word in our company’s name. Innovation is something that’s very important to us. It’s often used to refer to new ideas or approaches, but at IPS, we think about innovation as taking a unique approach to each opportunity. What works at “Company A” does not mean it will work at “Company B.” Every environment, culture, set of values, leadership style, etc. is different and unique. To be an effective partner, Innovative People Solutions takes a fresh approach to each client and each situation. We don’t believe in a “cookie cutter” approach. Our intent is not to reinvent the wheel at every turn. Instead, we leverage what we have learned and experienced over the years. At the same time, we also want to be thoughtful about the context of each search, project, assignment, request and opportunity we encounter. Solomon wrote that “there is no new thing under the sun,” but he didn’t imply that every problem will require the same solution.
One observation we’ve heard over the years has been told many times over in various organizations of different shapes and sizes. The observation is: when a company hires a leader from a well-known organization, they hope that he/she will bring the same level of impact and results as in his/her previous company. In many instances, these leaders will simply clone the strategy and processes they used at their prior company and bring it to their new organization, but the results often vary greatly. This approach is often used due to pressure of immediate results and demand for change. What we have seen is that this approach does not bring about the desired results and impact, and sends companies back to the drawing board, or in some cases, replacing the new top-level hire with someone who has fresh eyes and can set a strategy the business leaders will respect.
The IPS approach is to look at each of our clients and their needs uniquely. We take time to understand the dynamics, context, culture, needs, and business objectives (to name a few) for each organization. This approach is very hands-on and involves in-depth discussions with key individuals within the business to ensure we have a clear view on current and future states of the company.
Personally – I’d like to convey that IPS doesn’t want to waste a company or business leader’s time with ineffective approaches. It’s not good for anyone—the client, us or the candidates we are working with. Regardless of the approach or method, it should be direct, actionable and produce results.