So far in the series, we’ve looked at strategies that directly apply to our thinking. In this post, we’ll look at a strategy that helps manage the thinking process: use a facilitator. A skilled facilitator will free you up to focus on idea generation. They will also help you apply the strategies we’ve already covered: […]
Great ideas: Strategy 8 – use a facilitator Read More »
We’re shifting focus slightly in this post, to look at a strategy that will keep our thinking and idea generation as broad and open as possible. This is one of the most vital keys of the thinking process: don’t prejudge your ideas. This approach is a perfect companion for the strategies we’ve already covered: having
Great ideas: Strategy 7 – don’t prejudge your ideas Read More »
An often-overlooked strategy for generating great ideas is to use a theme or vision to drive our thinking. You can use this approach in conjunction with the strategies we’ve already covered: having lots of ideas, reading, watching and listening broadly, carving out blank space, involving others and knowing nothing, being curious. How does a theme
Great ideas: Strategy 6 – use a theme or vision Read More »
This strategy sounds counter-intuitive, but the “know nothing, be curious” approach puts us on the pathway to developing fresh perspectives and gaining insights. And from that, we can generate great ideas. You can layer this strategy on top of the first four: having lots of ideas, reading, watching and listening broadly, carving out blank space,
Great Ideas: Strategy 5 – know nothing, be curious Read More »
So far in this series, we’ve focused on individual activities for generating great ideas – now we turn our attention to how to involve others in our thinking, as a way of developing more creative, robust and valuable ideas than when working alone. This doesn’t mean we give up on having lots of ideas, reading,
Great ideas: Strategy 4 – involve others Read More »
These days, we are more likely than ever to say that we don’t have any “blank space” in our lives. There’s no room for downtime when we’re so busy trying to finish our to-do lists, maintain a social life (whether online or in the “real world”), do our jobs and keep ourselves mentally and physically
Great ideas: Strategy 3 – carve out blank space Read More »
Welcome back to the “How to have great ideas” series. My previous article covered the first strategy for having great ideas, which is to have lots of ideas. It’s worth reading that article first, to give you context for the second strategy: to read, watch, and listen broadly. Very few of us read, watch, and
Great ideas: Strategy 2 – read, watch, and listen broadly Read More »
Welcome back to my “How to have great ideas” series. If you’re looking to learn new ways to generate great ideas, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s dive in to our first strategy: have lots of ideas. I kicked off the series by considering why we struggle to have great ideas. Quantity (lots) precedes
Great ideas: Strategy 1 – have lots of ideas Read More »
As leaders and managers, we’re often expected to have the great ideas, brilliant insights and action plans that will help our people and organisations turn over a new leaf. But in the midst of all the busy-ness of business, it’s easy to get stuck in a “same old, same old” thinking rut. Why we struggle
Why do we struggle to have great ideas? Read More »
Have you ever wondered why some teams thrive in difficult times? Their leaders have learned how to create psychological safety. Team members and the manager trust one another, freely share knowledge, admit mistakes and generate creative and innovative ideas at the drop of a hat. Other teams and managers spend their time covering up mistakes,
Leadership Toolbox: how to create psychological safety at work Read More »
