Balancing Creativity And Efficiency

Disney was drifting. Then Bob Iger returned and made one move that reignited the magic. Here’s how cutting bureaucracy rebuilt creativity: When Iger rejoined Disney in 2022, things were bad. Stock down 40%. Disney+ losing $4B a year. Creative teams stuck in 6-week approval loops. Most CEOs would tighten control. Iger did the opposite. His first move? He dismantled the Strategic Planning Committee. 20 people gone. Creative directors could now pitch straight to decision-makers. A process that took 18 months now took 6 weeks. Then he replaced Disney’s 65-page rulebook with one question: “Would Walt take this risk?” It worked. Encanto, nearly killed by the committee, was approved in 8 weeks. It became Disney’s biggest hit since Frozen. Studios that hadn’t produced a blockbuster in years released 3 in 18 months. Employee satisfaction jumped 31%. Top talent started coming back. But here’s what most leaders miss: Iger didn’t just speed things up. He created a system for it. The 3-2-1 Rule: - No more than 3 people in any approval chain - Decisions made within 2 weeks - 1 person ultimately accountable That’s how Inside Out 2 got reimagined mid-production, with a $75M change, approved in one meeting. The lesson? Your job isn’t to manage talent. It’s to unleash it. What’s one decision process in your org that takes too long? Cut it in half by Friday. Want more research-backed insights on leadership? Join 11,000+ leaders who get our weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/en9vxeNk

As kids, my brother and I always noticed our father wore either a blue or white shirt with cream pants to work, despite having more colors in his closet. Now, at 32, I finally understand why. It wasn’t about lacking options, it was about simplifying decisions. Just like Zuckerberg’s “grey t-shirt” principle, removing small, repetitive choices frees up mental energy for what truly matters. Here’s why this approach works so well for business owners: 1. Focus on What Counts: You can channel your energy into the major decisions that drive your business forward by cutting out trivial choices. 2. Consistency is Key: Just like having a daily “uniform,” applying consistency to your business processes creates efficiency and reliability. 3. Avoid Decision Fatigue: Making decisions all day wears down your willpower. Simplifying your routine helps save mental energy for when it matters most. How to Apply This Principle to Your Business: - Identify Your “Business Uniform”: Pinpoint the core tasks, services, or offerings that define your business success. - Create Systems and Routines: Streamline daily operations by building routines and automating repetitive tasks. - Schedule Time for Big-Picture Thinking: Set aside time each day or week for strategic planning and decision-making. - Cut What Doesn’t Serve Your Main Goals: Be ruthless in eliminating distractions or activities that don’t directly contribute to your business growth. Remember, it’s not about being boring—it’s about being brilliant where it counts. So, what’s your “grey t-shirt” for business success? #decisionmaking #entrepreneurship

🌱 Sustainable UX Toolkits & Resources (https://lnkd.in/eT6ZR3qz), a large (!) repository of toolkits, Figma templates, books, case studies, articles on sustainable UX — throughout the entire product design process. Kindly put together by the SUX - The Sustainable UX Network, via Thorsten Jonas. Sustainable UX Database (Notion) https://lnkd.in/eyZjigBx As designers, we often are left wondering how to integrate sustainable practices into our design work. Most environmental impact happens on our user’s devices, so we can help our users by reducing waste. Typically, when we speak about sustainability, we mean at least 4 facets of it: 🌱 Reducing waste ← In publishing, heavy visuals, animation, PDFs, 🌻 Deleting content ← Un-publishing outdated, misleading content/flows, 🐝 Maximize reusability ← UI components, flows, processes, templates, 🌳 Sustainable defaults ← Help people make more sustainable choices. In practice, we could use simple but impactful design patterns: 1. Always prefer the lightest mode of communication. 2. Aim to reduce session duration instead of increasing it. 3. Encourage the reuse of existing templates and presets. 4. Auto-delete after 365 days what hasn’t been used once. 5. Discourage users from PDF exports in favor of URLs. 6. Always provide audio-only and transcript for videos. 7. Be intentional with default settings for your users. 8. Highlight key insights to create understanding faster. 9. Skip unnecessary pages: drive users to results faster. 10. Show filters/presets in autocomplete, not just keywords. 11. Nudge users to delete old files for 10% off that month. 12. Establish an archiving, deletion and clean-up policies. 13. Encourage and reward users for trying out dark mode. 14. Question font weights, stock photos, parallax, 4K-videos. 15. Question collected data, if it’s used and when it’s deleted. Individual actions can drive changes at scale. But they need a momentum. And momentum often comes through small changes: better defaults, reused filters and templates, reduced time on task. That’s also just good usability — and can have tangible impact for users and businesses at scale. Useful resources: Sustainable UX Toolkits, by yours truly https://lnkd.in/ePya82v3 Designing For Planet Knowledge Hub (Notion) https://lnkd.in/eiHtpkJH Product Design for Sustainability (+ Google Doc template), by Artiom Dashinsky ↳ https://lnkd.in/dDnujb-t ↳ https://lnkd.in/d95FWb4r *HUGE* thanks to Thorsten Jonas, Isabel Pettinato, Christoph Stark, Alice M., Bavo Lodewyckx, Poppe G., Stine Ramsing and all wonderful contributors to the project. Your effort doesn’t go unnoticed! 👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾 #ux #design

Your talent is worthless if you can't balance it with real-world demands. Most people chase success the wrong way: - Overworking during the week - Trying to be creative on weekends - Burning out trying to do both This approach is destroying both your potential and peace of mind. Instead, here's what actually works: 1. Integration over Separation Blend creative thinking into every professional task Make every meeting a chance to innovate Turn routine work into creative experiments 2. Balance through Boundaries Set clear limits for both work and creative time Create transition rituals between different modes Respect your energy levels above all else 3. Consistency over Intensity Small creative acts daily beat big weekend projects Regular professional development trumps sporadic sprints Sustainable practices win over heroic efforts The most successful professionals I've worked with don't try to be two different people - they become one balanced individual. Ready to transform how you approach your work and life? Pick one routine task today and approach it with creative intent. ✍️ Your insights can make a difference!

The AFLOW model advances agentic workflow optimization by treating it as a search space it explores with Monte Carlo analysis. One outcome is small models outperforming GPT 4o at 4.5% of the cost. There is vast scope for optimization of agentic workflow, due to the unlmiited potential combinations. This is likely to yield more progress than in underlying model development. The researchers are sharing code as well as a detailed paper (link in comments). Some highlights of the paper: 🌟 Enhanced Workflow Adaptability Through Operators. Operators such as "Generate," "Review & Revise," and "Ensemble" act as reusable workflow building blocks in AFLOW, enabling the framework to adapt efficiently to diverse tasks. This modular approach improves search efficiency and ensures robust solutions across six benchmark datasets, underscoring the value of integrating predefined patterns into automated systems. 🔄 Cost-Effective Task Execution with Model Agnosticism. Workflows generated by AFLOW allow less powerful models to outperform larger ones in cost-effectiveness, particularly in high-complexity tasks like GSM8K and MBPP. This scalability in performance at reduced computational costs makes AFLOW a game-changer for deploying AI in budget-sensitive applications. 📊 Iterative Improvement with Monte Carlo Tree Search. AFLOW’s tree-based structure retains successful experiences and avoids redundant failures, facilitating iterative improvements. For example, in GSM8K, AFLOW autonomously crafted workflows that performed similarly to manually designed structures, showcasing its ability to innovate through optimized search strategies. 🔍 Model-Specific Workflow Tailoring. Different language models require tailored workflows for optimal performance. AFLOW demonstrated that workflows optimized for one model (e.g., GPT-4o-mini) might not transfer perfectly to another (e.g., DeepSeek-V2.5), emphasizing the need for context-specific adaptations in AI systems. Code sharing of research such as this is an incredible amplifier of progress. Expect to see others take this excellent work further.

Innovation is the lifeblood of progress, but it doesn’t happen by chance. It’s cultivated in environments where team members feel safe to share ideas and challenge the status quo. Creating a culture of innovation means nurturing an environment where bold ideas can flourish. It’s about openness, diverse perspectives, and the freedom to experiment. When people feel empowered to speak up, creativity thrives, and true innovation follows. So, how do you create such a culture? 1️⃣ Embed a Growth Mindset: Encourage continuous learning and development across all levels of the organization. Provide resources for professional growth and celebrate learning milestones, fostering an environment where knowledge and skills are constantly evolving. 2️⃣ Facilitate Cross-Functional Collaboration: Break down silos and encourage teams from different departments to work together. Cross-functional projects can bring fresh perspectives and spur innovative solutions that wouldn’t emerge in isolation. 3️⃣ Implement Structured Feedback Mechanisms: Establish regular feedback processes focused on constructive criticism and actionable insights. Ensure psychological safety so team members feel secure, viewing feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than critique. 4️⃣ Encourage Calculated Risks: Promote a culture where calculated risks are welcomed. Empower your team to explore new ideas and approaches without fear of failure. Recognize and reward innovative efforts, even when they don’t result in immediate success. By embedding these principles into your organizational culture, you can pave the way for continuous growth and success. Let’s create spaces where innovation is not just an aspiration but a tangible reality. #Leadership #Innovation #FutureOfWork

The life of an early-stage founder is a beautiful mess. One minute you're troubleshooting a server crash, the next you're crafting a captivating investor pitch. While exhilarating, this constant context switching can leave your brain feeling like a juggling octopus, with tasks and responsibilities swirling in a chaotic dance. The Science of Scatteredness: Neuroscientists tell us context switching comes at a cost. Each time we shift gears, our brains incur a "switching cost" – a period of time wasted regaining focus and context. This constant switching can lead to decreased productivity, increased errors, and even impaired decision-making. Pros: 1. Agility and Adaptability: Founders wear many hats, and the ability to switch between tasks allows them to respond quickly to diverse challenges. 2. Holistic Understanding: Context switching fosters a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of various aspects of the business. 3. Spark of Innovation: The mental gymnastics of context switching can sometimes trigger creative connections, leading to unexpected solutions and innovative ideas. Cons: 1. Decreased Productivity: The "switching cost" can significantly impact efficiency, leading to longer hours and increased stress 2. Cognitive Overload: Juggling multiple tasks can overload your working memory, leading to decreased focus, attention lapses, and potential errors in judgment. 3. Decision Fatigue: Making numerous decisions across various domains can lead to decision fatigue, impacting the quality of your later choices. So how can early-stage founders mitigate the negative effects of context switching and leverage its potential benefits? 1. Batch Similar Tasks: Group similar tasks together, minimizing the number of context switches needed. Dedicate specific times for coding, emails, or meetings. 2. Schedule Breaks: Schedule short breaks throughout the day to allow your brain to rest and refocus. A quick walk or meditation can do wonders. 3. Delegate and Prioritize: Don't be a hero. Delegate tasks whenever possible and prioritize based on urgency and importance. 4. Leverage Technology: Use project management tools and communication platforms to streamline processes and reduce information overload. 5. Embrace Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques like meditation or deep breathing to improve focus and manage stress. Remember, you are not an octopus. While early-stage founders naturally wear many hats, prioritizing focused work and strategic context switching can significantly improve your well-being and the success of your venture. Embrace the beautiful mess, but manage your mental acrobatics, and you'll find the sweet spot where agility meets efficiency, paving the way for a thriving startup. ...and if all else fails, invest in a sturdy punching bag. #FoundersJourney #ContextSwitching #BrainHealth #StartupLife #Productivity #DecisionMaking #Mindfulness #Focus #Delegation #Technology #Wellbeing #Success #PunchingBagHumor

Work-life balance isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. It’s not about squeezing personal time into the cracks of a 9-to-5. It’s about designing a day that serves both your professional and personal needs. Some people thrive in the mornings ↳ Tackling their hardest tasks before noon. Others find their creativity peaks later in the day ↳ Working in shorter bursts with plenty of personal breaks. And that’s perfectly OK - there’s no right way to balance. The question isn’t, “How can I fit into a pre-existing schedule?” but rather, “How can I make a schedule fit me?” Here’s a thought experiment: ↳ What hours are you most productive? ↳ When do you feel your energy dip? ↳ How can you structure your time to work with your natural rhythms instead of against them? Take ownership of your time. Work-life balance isn’t about having equal parts of work and personal time. Some days you might work longer, some days shorter - it's the balance across your life that matters, not just in a single day. Remember, balance is personal, and there’s freedom in designing it the way you want. P.S. What does your ideal day look like? Image Credit: BetterUp

Traditional surrogate-based design optimization (SBDO) is hitting a wall, especially with high-dimensional, complex designs. In this new paper, Dr. Namwoo Kang presents a next-gen framework using generative AI, integrating three key models: - Generative model (design synthesis) - Predictive model (performance estimation) - Optimization model (iterative or generative) Rather than optimizing directly in a high-dimensional design space (x), the workflow introduces a low-dimensional latent space (z) learned via generative models. ➡️ z → x → y z = latent variables x = CAD geometry y = performance (drag, stress, etc.) This means we’re no longer hand-coding design parameters or doing trial-and-error with simplified surrogate models. 🧠 Why this matters: - Parametric modeling is no longer a bottleneck - Complex shapes are learned directly from CAD - Dynamic and multimodal performance data (1D, 2D, 3D) can be used - Near real-time optimization is possible #AI #GenerativeDesign #CAE #DesignOptimization

🧭 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 This week, we explored the dynamic interplay between stability and innovation within Enterprise Architecture (EA). The discussions underscored that true architectural excellence involves mastering both simplicity and complexity with intention. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀: ① 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘃𝘀. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆 Simplicity reduces cognitive load and accelerates decision-making, while complexity, when purposeful, drives innovation. As noted, “𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙩𝙮; 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩.” ② 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 Stability isn't about rigidity; it's about providing a foundation that enables teams to take calculated risks. By offering clear interfaces and strong governance, we allow innovation to flourish without compromising core systems. ③ 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 Controlled innovation requires designated spaces for experimentation. Utilizing minimum viable architectures and rapid prototypes allows for testing ideas without destabilizing the system. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 ✦ Nadzeya Stalbouskaya emphasized that, “𝙎𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨; 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨.” She highlighted the importance of knowing when and where to apply each to build trust and drive innovation. ✦ Jesper Lowgren reinforced the idea that EAs play a critical role in shaping environments where bold ideas can emerge without destabilizing the system. ✦ Amarnath Bandekar introduced the concept of the “𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 & 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻” triangle, suggesting it as a framework to balance stability and innovation. ✦ Michael D. Stark offered a sporting analogy, comparing the balance in EA to a good kick in rugby followed by a good chase, emphasizing the importance of execution following strategy. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 Enterprise Architecture goes beyond stability and innovation as a choice to harmonizing them. By intentionally designing systems that are both robust and adaptable, we can navigate the complexities of modern organizations and drive meaningful change. --- ➕ Follow Kevin Donovan 🔔 👍 Like | ♻️ Repost | 💬 Comment 🚀 Join 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬’ 𝐇𝐮𝐛 👉 https://lnkd.in/dgmQqfu2.