Online resources:
http://lateralaction.com/
http://bobsutton.typepad.com/
http://www.danpink.com/
http://www.smartbrief.com/topic/1/business#.UXkYNFGMG04
http://www.mydesignshop.com/communication-strategies (this one you have to pay for)

Books:
Switch by Chip and Dan Heath
Click by Ori and Rom Brafman

I hope other readers will add to this list...

-Andy

Would you please post or send me email with links to the online sites or advice blogs that you reference in this article?

That would be very helpful.
Thanks -
Edie

But the thing I miss the most from my LP youth is the sense of community that came with the acquisition of a new album. Listening to a new album was a social event. You invited your friends over and together you pored over the cover art and debated the meanings of the lyrics. I compare that to my daughter's current method of a silent and solitary download, listened to privately with ear buds, and with no more extension of the content than a thumbnail of the CD cover. I can't help but think that she's missing out on an experience that I once took for granted.

Thanks for these recommendations. We're currently setting our budgets for the next fiscal year, so the timing of your advice is perfect!
There are local design groups I can tap into as well.
Wow. It's so nice to hear from someone who "gets" what in-house teams are up against. Keeping the spark alive is what it's all about.

Melissa

I'm glad you liked the article. I'm also happy to try and answer your question too.

Well, I usually meet with my direct supervisor prior to budget discussions begin and outline my personal goals and my teams goals for the coming fiscal year. In those preliminary budget discussions, I require that any conference fees, professional membership fees and staff development training costs be included. These items usually get approved because I am able to align those staff development goals to our organizations strategic plan. I position them in such a way that they show a direct benefit to the overarching purpose of our organization. Budgets are tight all around but I find if you can align them with the purpose of the organization you work for they generally will see the value from a business perspective. That's key for us in-house manager's.

The collaboration that I referred to in the article came about from a chance meeting at a (free to members) local AIGA event. I also came across the poster project in a similar way. I was press checking another project and saw these absolutely gorgeous posters from previous years in the printer's offices on my way to view some press pulls. I noticed that many were designed by well-known designers in our state and simply asked if I could create concepts for the 2013 posters. I knew this would give me an opportunity to design, which some days I long for when I'm managing folks.

I then remembered the amazing artist I met at the AIGA event, whom I kept in contact with over the years. I simply called him, asking if he would be interested in collaborating with me pro bono on a fun project that might take him (and me) out of his comfort zone. He agreed. I then organized the project as I would any major, professional project I initiate with my in-house team. I gave the artist a creative brief and set a production schedule including our first creative meeting. It was an incredible and fun collaboration. From this experience, I'm now looking for ways to work with the artist (paying him a fee) on projects with my in-house team.

The artist is keeping the original artwork and I will be giving him several posters from the printer. Plus both our names appear on the poster. He gets statewide recognition and so do I along my in-house team.

You don't have to pay for all your external collaborations. It is a good idea to get involved in your local AIGA, AAF and InSource events though. The costs are minimal. Often these organizations need designers to develop pro bono creative to advertise events or push major project initiatives. Those opportunities are perfect ways for in-house teams to expand their reach.

Stay tuned, I'm doing some other things with my team that I'll share in an upcoming post. Melissa, thank you so much for taking time to read the article and posting a comment. I truly appreciate it. I hope I shed a little more light on the topic.

Best,
Ed