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Hi! I'm Andrea J. Miller and this is my “On Leading Well” Newsletter. I send this to people in my networks, people I’ve met recently, and friends I want to keep in touch with. You can unsubscribe (AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE EMAIL) anytime, I won’t be offended.
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Today, we’ll talk about The Great Remake: A Lesson in Innovation from the Grammy Stage
Also this week:
Courtney Dauwalter: Step inside the 'pain cave', where rules are remade
The New Science on What Ultra-Processed Food Does to Your Brain - WSJ
The Lighter Side of Remakes
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The Great Remake: A Lesson in Innovation from the Grammy Stage
The world’s changing so quickly it’s getting harder to keep up, let alone find inspiration.
We search for the latest trend so we can…
Live better.
Work better.
Be better.
The best example of this is the recent rapid uptake of AI.
But success isn’t always found in the latest and greatest trend. Sometimes we need to look backward to go forward.
I was recently reminded of this while watching Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs’ incredible duet of "Fast Car," which she originally recorded some 35 years ago.
Combs’ hit remake reminded us of Chapman’s remarkable talent while also attracting a new group of fans.
The Essence of a Great Remake
A great remake takes an old, sometimes forgotten idea and updates it to resonate with the current tastes and needs of the consumer.
It re-imagines it while (hopefully) maintaining the things that made it so great in the first place.
This is why the Combs and Chapman collaboration went far beyond a mere duet.
It demonstrated how integrating different perspectives can enrich and broaden the appeal of familiar ideas so that an even larger market finds value in them.
And The Award Goes To…
Synergy: Combs and Chapman's collaboration amplified the song's impact, demonstrating that collective efforts, in music or business can produce better results in new markets while maintaining the previous fan base.
Innovation: Effective collaborations inject new life into existing frameworks, advancing creativity and discovery to create successful products.
Adaptation: The capacity to remake and adapt ensures resilience and relevance, allowing businesses or songs to thrive amidst changing times.
While seemingly simple, this process requires leaders to create environments where collaboration and the ability to ‘remake' things can flourish.
As with any innovative process, staff need a sense of psychological safety to feel comfortable taking chances…whether with the familiar or something new.
People need to know that initiative is valued.
Regardless of whether it’s a hit or flop.
Actions for Embracing 'The Great Remake'
1. Cultivate Diverse Teams: Encourage team members with different backgrounds to share perspectives and experiences.
2. Promote Open Communication: Facilitate discussions that bridge the traditional and contemporary, creating more comprehensive solutions.
3. Leverage the Remake Concept: Support teams to identify and reimagine proven strategies or products, adapting them to current contexts and challenges.
4. Celebrate Innovative Achievements: Acknowledge when teams successfully look at things from a different perspective, reinforcing the value of this approach.
The collaboration between Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman is more than just a memorable musical moment—it's a blueprint for leveraging surprising partnerships for innovation.
One that you and your team can use as motivation for rethinking old and new ideas at work.
So, what are you waiting for…crank up the volume, reflect on your past hits, and create your own great remake.
PS-I hope you found this useful and whenever you're ready, here’s an additional way I can help you:
Book a free discovery call with me. I'd love to meet you and talk about the goals you want to achieve.
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A Couple of Interesting Reads:
The New Science on What Ultra-Processed Food Does to Your Brain
Studies are finding links between these foods and changes in the way we learn, remember and feel
Courtney Dauwalter: Step inside the 'pain cave', where rules are remade
A little inspiration courtesy of the BBC about just how far we can push ourselves
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The Lighter Side of Remakes
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That’s it for this week. Thank you for being a subscriber!
If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend (or 5 :) or someone you feel would benefit from reading it!
And, if you have feedback or suggestions for subjects to cover, please message me…it’s a work in progress.
Andrea J. Miller
+1 (646) 556-5401 (Whatsapp)