Alan Gregerman - Surrounded by Geniuses: Unlocking the Brilliance in Yourself, Your Colleagues and Your Organization

Greetings. Its been three years since Surrounded by Geniuses was originally published, and in that time the need to unlock the brilliance in ourselves, our colleagues, and our organizations has become even more imperative. Economic challenges, increased competition from around the globe and around the corner, and the growing role of the internet, new media, and information technology in nearly every aspect of commerce have caused even the most successful companies to rethink the way they do business. Add to this the changing nature of the relationship between employees and organizations, and it becomes even clearer why we need fresh thinking if we are going to continue delivering the products, services, solutions, and experiences our customers deserve.

Again in this evolving backdrop, the two essential ideas in the book are now resonating with even more organizations. First, they are recognizing the importance of tapping the talents of all their peoplefrom leaders to frontline employeesand engaging them in work that really matters. We will never win consistently in business or any organization if we fail to see everyone as a potential source of innovation and demonstrate our belief in their ability to make a difference, or if we do not make the connection between their work and a bigger purposea purpose that revolves around building stronger relationships with colleagues and customers and delivering greater value to those we have the privilege to serve. In this regard, Im happy that Surrounded by Geniuses has been part of a very useful debate on the nature of corporate innovation and the powerful role that all of us can playgiven the right circumstancesin creating new ideas that matter and improving top- and bottom-line performance.

Second, a growing number of companies and organizations are finally understanding the logic of casting a much wider net in the search for ideas and insights that can improve the way we operate, the things we offer, and the nature of the customer experience. The days of looking very narrowly at our own expertise and the best practices of our industry are over. The most thoughtful businesses are hard at work searching for the very best thinking wherever it might be, and Surrounded by Geniuses has become a helpful companion on the journey. In fact, I have been delighted to find that many leading companies across a wide range of industries are using the book and its ten core chapters as a straightforward way to regularly stretch their thinkingasking business units and teams to look at each of these big ideas as a starting point in their quest to be different, more valuable in serving their customers, and more innovative and skillful internally. And many companies have also offered the book as a gift for long-term employees, new hires, and key partners in an effort to nurture or maintain their freshest thinking on important challenges and opportunities.

I should also note that the web and other dramatic changes in the ways that all of us are learning, communicating, and accessing ideas are making Surrounded by Geniuses even more essential and valuable today. For the first time ever, nearly all of us have the ability to discover insight and inspiration from practically any corner of the earth with the click of a mouse and use it to drive knowledge and create far more meaningful customer experiences. What we often lack is the clear guidance that this book brings to the task of being open, curious, and more engaged with the world around us. These hidden talents or gifts, enhanced by technology, are our secret weapon in leading our companies and organizations in these exciting but complicated times.

During the past three years Ive had the pleasure of talking about the book with more than sixty thousand people in speeches and seminars across the globe. Through these exchanges it has been particularly rewarding to see how the fundamental ideas of unlocking genius and being curious about the world around us have struck a universal cordtranscending place, culture, and language. It has also been rewarding to see how businesses everywhere have used Surrounded by Geniuses as just the right spark for becoming more remarkable and successful than they ever dreamed possible. Knowing that the book is making a difference is one of the greatest rewards of being an author. The other is having the chance to learn from so many readers who have taken the time to call or write to share their genius.

Many thanks!

Alan S. Gregerman

Silver Spring, Maryland

Summer 2010