copanion ceo’s creative take on leadership — more cow bell, please! [video]

“you have to crank up the creative thinking to keep employees engaged and happy.” – ed jennings, ceo, copanion inc.

via kristy short for copanion

when a ceo starts calling for “more cow bell,” you know times are changing. it’s all about creating a big, bold, and colorful work experience.

the economy continues to slog along. with cutbacks and looming thoughts of job loss, it’s no big surprise that many office cultures have taken a morale hit. creative thought leaders have long been promoting creativity in the corporate workspace. the time has come for some color.

edward v. jennings, ceo of copanion inc., is leading the pack of creative executives. from asking for more cow bell to figuratively tearing down walls and office doors, he is a prime example of an executive willing to think outside of box… and one gutsy enough to install truly creative initiatives.

a few of the most popular programs include:

more cow bell—having fun is key in any work environment. when employees enjoy going to work, it fosters a positive culture. the company’s “cow bell” policy has added an air of humor and goodwill to the company’s inside sales team. the popular saturday night live skit where christopher walken constantly calls for “more cow bell” has reached cult classic status—and copanion is taking advantage of its popularity.

with a cow bell secured on the sales floor, sales reps ring the bell each time a significant sale is made—meeting the ceo’s request for “more cow bell!” the addition of the cow bell has created an environment of fun and camaraderie—one that would make will ferrell proud.

the biggest loser—this year, copanion launched its own version of the biggest loser in a company-wide effort to keep staff healthy. with an 85% participation rate, staff was split into five teams. teams competed in two categories:

1) total hours of exercise and
2) total weight loss.

the winning team in each category earned 8 hours of vacation time per team member. the friendly competition engaged staff from all departments and successfully promoted cross-departmental rapport as people worked together for a common, healthy goal.

“keeping it real” policies and events—the hierarchy within copanion is best described as flat. the company’s management team strives to de-emphasis titles and focus on a team approach.

to foster a culture of openness, the company:

• hosts a free friday lunch, catered by local eateries, for all staff. free friday lunches bring employees from all departments to “the table” to talk and enhance relationships—and that includes the ceo.
• facilitates quarterly staff meetings to share the company’s fiscal information with all employees. additionally, company sales are tracked on a common-area white board. this allows any employee to review the company’s monthly sales numbers in relation to goals.
• adheres to a true “open door” policy at all times. this encourages staff to share ideas and concerns with top management at any time.
• hosts several offsite events, such as laser tag, go kart, and guitar hero competitions.

jennings understands the necessity of right brain thinking to lead his staff and ensure a high-energy working environment. progressive ceos, like jennings, are adapting to the role of creative inventor to engage staff at a far deeper level than simply working 8-5.

posted on may 6, 2010