Innovation and Creative Problem-Solving with Google’s Kirk Vallis | Episode 5

08/22/23 • 51 min

Welcome back to the Bouncebackability Podcast with Simon Ursell and Rusty Earnshaw. Today we are joined by a very special guest, Kirk Vallis, Global Head of creative Capability Development at Google. We delve into some fascinating topics, including - the intersection of AI and creativity; the power of experimentation as a catalyst for safer and more ambitious goals, and the concept of Ten X thinking.

Kirk has spent the last 11 years at Google, developing innovation frameworks, but more importantly, helping colleagues navigate the right behaviours, mindset and techniques to unlock fresh thinking.

He consults and speaks for organisations around the world, recently working with organisations such as Adidas, Mastercard and Fidelity. Kirk is a proud ambassador for Moving Ahead and the 30% Club, driving greater diversity and inclusion at all levels within top companies.

If you’re interested in using creative problem-solving to out-think your competitors and elevate your organisation, this episode is for you.

[00:04:49] AI and creativity - can it surpass humans in its ability to be creative?

[00:15:34] Experimentation breeds safer and more ambitious goals.

[00:21:58] Learning from mistakes, Ten X thinking, resilience and importance of spirit and mindset.

[00:27:38] The importance of reflection, signposting, and external perspectives.

[00:48:34] Embracing failure playfully; it upgrades human resilience.

You can connect with Kirk here:

LinkedIn: Kirk Vallis | LinkedIn

Please like, subscribe or follow so you're notified of any new episodes coming up, and if you're keen to reach Rusty or Simon with any suggestions, feedback or comments, you can contact them via the show's LinkedIn page here:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bouncebackability-podcast/

Kirk has spent the last 11 years at Google, developing innovation frameworks, but more importantly, helping colleagues navigate the right behaviours, mindset and techniques to unlock fresh thinking.

If you’re interested in using creative problem-solving to out-think your competitors and elevate your organisation, this episode is for you.

[00:04:49] AI and creativity - can it surpass humans in its ability to be creative?

[00:15:34] Experimentation breeds safer and more ambitious goals.

[00:21:58] Learning from mistakes, Ten X thinking, resilience and importance of spirit and mindset.

[00:27:38] The importance of reflection, signposting, and external perspectives.

[00:48:34] Embracing failure playfully; it upgrades human resilience.

You can connect with Kirk here:

LinkedIn: Kirk Vallis | LinkedIn

Previous Episode

Embracing Emotional Fitness in the Workplace with Dr Suzanne Brown | Episode 4

In this episode, Simon and Rusty welcome their special guest Suzanne Brown to share her insights and experiences around emotional fitness within the workplace. Suzanne emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of psychological safety, both within oneself and in relationships with others.
Together they discuss the impact of providing emotional fitness classes to employees and the lasting effects they have on individuals, resulting in increased productivity and lower rates of sick leave across organisations. The conversation also delves into topics such as resilience, coping strategies, and the importance of personal growth.
Suzanne explores the concept of institutional transference and challenges conventional practices of employee retention, suggesting a shift towards alignment with values and individual needs of both the employer and employee.

Suzanne is a Clinical Psychologist, Emotional Fitness Consultant, and the brilliant mind behind Emotionally Connected, a specialized psychology consultancy merging clinical psychology with elite performance. Her innovative approach empowers us to actively address our mental health through immersive and captivating methods.
In this episode:

[04:35] Screening Organizations and Individuals: aligning motivation and agenda.

[09:12] Addressing Resistance: the different approaches, including confrontation and alternatives to help individuals make their own choices.

[15:20] The Concept of Resilience: The nuanced concept of resilience and how it often involves facing hardship.

[22:05] Emotional Fitness and the Ripple Effect: the emotional fitness sessions and their profound impact on individuals and relationships.

[30:40] Psychological Safety in Organizations: the importance of psychological safety in organizations, enabling individuals to be themselves, offer ideas, and learn from failure.

You can connect with Suzanne here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drsuzebrown

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emotionallyconnected/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsuzannebrown/

Website: https://www.emotionallyconnected.co.uk/

Next Episode

Overcoming Setbacks to Achieve Dreams with Military Commander Justin Reuter | Episode 6

In this episode of the Bouncebackability Podcast with Simon and Rusty, we welcome an incredible guest – a senior defense consultant and Tornado F3 fighter pilot, Justin Reuter. Drawing on his own personal journey as a military weapons instructor (think the UK’s equivalent of ‘Top Gun’) and Commander of the UK Air Forces in the Middle East, Justin shares his insights on how civilians can adopt military techniques to aid bounce back from setbacks and develop resilience within their organisations and teams.

He talks to us about the importance of mentors and how brutal honesty from all ranks in his team have benefited his own growth; how he has applied the concept of funnels and delegation to optimise leadership roles of corporates across the UK, and the effect environment can have on the outlook of your team.

We also dive into the military's approach to planning, debriefing, and reassessment, and how businesses can incorporate these strategies to become more productive and resilient. Justin's wealth of knowledge and practical examples provide invaluable lessons for leaders in any field. Get ready to gain valuable insights on building resilience and creating a culture of challenge within your teams. Let's dive in!

In this episode:

[00:03:18] Resilience - Overcoming setbacks to achieve dreams.

[00:08:14] Military training methods – building strong teams and the importance of trust between team members.

[00:18:25] Maintaining composure in face of challenges – the complexities of managing the Afghanistan base.

[00:38:09] Justin's lessons on delegation, broadening horizons and the impact of good leaders.

You can connect with Justin here:

LinkedIn:

Justin Reuter | LinkedIn

Please like, subscribe or follow, so you're notified of any new episodes coming up, and if you're keen to reach Rusty or Simon with any suggestions, feedback or comments, you can contact them via the show's LinkedIn page here:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bouncebackability-podcast/

The Bouncebackability Podcast - Innovation and Creative Problem-Solving with Google’s Kirk Vallis | Episode 5

Transcript

Rusty Earnshaw [00:00:12]:
Welcome people to the bounce back ability podcast. We're super excited this time to well, we're excited for two things. One is to go and spend time with Kirk Vallis, who is definitely one of the greatest minds I've ever met. Love the way he thinks about things, helps people think about things. I guess that's his job and he's pretty remarkable at it. The second thing we're looking forward to is the fact that we are going into Google in London and where the energy i