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I
deas are valuable. Always have been. Whether new products
and services, new ways to connect with our clients and
employees, refining internal processes, meeting challenges
head-on or creating new opportunities.
In 1902 an enterprising man had an idea. He owned a stationery
shop and in a competitive market he was looking for ways to gain
the upper hand. In the days of inkwells when you bought writing
paper you would buy it in packages of loose sheets. So our hero
decided to glue individual sheets of paper together to make writing
things down more convenient. J. A. Birchall of Launceston in
Tasmania had invented the notepad and boosted his sales at the
same time
Today, with the financial crisis, increased competition, eco-
awareness, technology changing faster than I can write this article,
ideas aren't just important, they're vital.
And it's the Creative Companies the ones that not only have great
ideas but also have creativity as a key organisational value that are
better placed to deal with changes in their industry and their market.
But what is more valuable is creating a workplace environment and
an organsational culture where ideas and creativity thrive. Where
people feel safe, positive and confident to voice their ideas and their
creativity without fear of ridicule or judgement. Where ideas are
allowed a chance of life, to grow and evolve.
But how do you create such a culture? Creative Companies such
as Disney, Apple and Toyota do two things. Firstly they build an
organisational culture that stimulates and supports creativity and
ideas. Secondly, they put in place processes that allow ideas to
flourish. However, you don't have to be a giant to have a culture
that stimulates fresh thinking and tap into the creative potential of
your people
here are some suggestions
Give permission to be creative
Allow your people to be creative and toss ideas around. It's not
something you turn on and off or do in a sealed room. Creative and
idea generating should be part of what you do on a daily basis.
understand ideas are `incremental' as well as `Big Bang'.
Understand that some ideas will be `Big Bang' (life changing ones
the ones that revolutionise a company and industry) and that
some will be `Incremental' (ideas that refine and improve things
already in existence). Often we seek the next Big thing but the truth
is it's often small ideas that pay huge dividends.
ensure ideas have a place in the world.
Let's face facts. A great idea needs to add value to your business,
your people or your clients, otherwise they are not great ideas.
So it's important to have very clear objectives in place when
generating ideas so they will be directed and serve a purpose.
Create a stimulating environment
Your physical surroundings greatly influence your mindset. So to
put you and your team in a creative mindset you need to create a
physical workspace that is conducive to creativity and not adverse
to it. Grey drab boardrooms won't do it. You need to create or find
a space, which stimulates creative thought.
allocate time
The creative process needs time and creative organisations
understand this. Google for example has `20% Google Time' where
employees allocate 20% of their work time to use how they want to
in ways they want to. Having time for thinking, pondering, turning
off and clearing your mind is essential for the creative process to
do its thing. Don't fight it work with it and find ways to give your
team time to think.
separate idea generating from idea
evaluating
Most people go wrong because they start judging ideas as soon they
are thrown onto the table the ideas get squashed before they get a
chance to breathe life and evolve. It's important to have a process
in place that separates the idea generating part from the evaluating
and judging part. n
Nigel helps companies and their people be more creative through his
`funnelthinking'
TM
workshops, keynotes and consulting and is author
of `Think BITS'. More information can be found at www.nigelcollin.
com.au or contact Nigel at think@nigelcollin.com.
Special Feature
Creative thinker Nigel Collin looks at why having a creative
organisational culture that stimulates fresh ideas is vital to survival and
future growth and how to get one.
Creative and idea generating
should be part of what you
do on a daily basis.
"
Contact: Tanya Agius
Mobile: 0414 559 566
Fax: +61 3 9763 0802
Web: www.callforpapers.net.au
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