Brainstorming is a group activity, but more often than not, people need to be creative when working alone, for three reasons: 1) not enough time to run a proper brainstorm, 2) the organisation or department is too small to invite others to a brainstorm, or 3) there simply aren't "creative people" around even if the first two requirements exist.
Thankfully, everyone has the ability to be creative regardless of how many people surround us. In fact, I could argue that your creativity might actually increase because you don’t have to worry about typical negative aspects of a brainstorm, like group think, negativity or cynicism.
In a two-part post (today and tomorrow), I’ve outlined ten ways which you can boost your solo creativity. Each is a variation on the basic theme of stimulating your creativity with mental or visual imagery, and all can be adapted to suit your personality, style and work environment.
As always, you should articulate the goal (what are you trying to solve?), and the need or problem (what’s preventing you from being successful?) Start with the tips below, but not necessarily in order. Write or draw your ideas on blank paper. (Be environmentally friendly and use old pages from your printer!) Don’t worry about how long you brainstorm. Sometimes it’s best to brainstorm for 10-15 minutes, return to a previous project, then return for another stretch of brainstorming an hour or so later on. You can keep this up for several days, returning whenever you need a mental break.
1. Select a noun.
A descriptive noun conjures up different aspects which you can use to brainstorm ideas. Open to any page of a book – or better yet, a dictionary – and select a noun at random (preferably one with no connection to your topic or problem). When you combine this word with your problem or need, what idea does the "merger" suggest? If one word doesn’t work, pick another, then another. Go to here for a list of my favourite nouns. If you’re addicted to the Internet, try www.dictionary.com or www.thesaurus.com.
2. Or, try an action verb.
Verbs work differently in creative thinking because – by their very nature – they suggest action, specifically a change. Pick any specific attribute of your product or service that you believe is central to the problem. Next, select any action verb from a variety of sources (see above) and force-fit it with the problem. The first few “mergers” might be odd, but don’t despair. I typically go through 40-45 verbs in one sitting before I look back at no more than 8-10 good ideas. Again, go here for a list of my favourite verbs.
3. Get a magazine filled with pictures.
A visual image is far more conducive to stimulating an idea than a noun or verb, so any picture can be a dynamic catalyst for ideas. Two methods: select a magazine with large-scale photographs, and preferably those outside of your normal reading habits. Flip through the pages, and use any image to “merge” with your topic or your problem to create a new idea. Or, broadband types can use the free image banks of Google or Yahoo. Type any word into the search engine (combine with #1, #2 above), and off you go. If you have access to online photo services, you have even more visual fodder to stimulate your creativity.
4. Get away from your problem by getting away from your desk.
One the best ways to invigorate your creativity is simply to get up from your desk and move. Doesn’t it make sense that your brain works better when you’re active, as opposed to sitting on your bum? Even better, go outside. Your brain continues to work on a problem after you’ve stopped focusing on it, so why not get outside in the fresh air to let your imagination go? Do yourself a bigger favour and go for a walk. Now you have visual stimulation everywhere you look. Give yourself more stimulation by going to a museum or shopping centre. (If you’re like me, you’ll also get a coffee as further stimulation.) At the very least, getting up and away from your problem will clear your mind so that when you return to your problem you’ll be refreshed and re-energized.
5. Talk to someone unrelated to the problem.
Did you know that the more knowledgeable and involved you are in any situation or topic, the less likely you’ll be able to be creative? You can have too much information. You learn so much it restricts your thinking. It’s often helpful to describe your problem or need to someone who has an open mind – like a colleague in another department or another floor, or even children. Kids don’t bring cynicism or negativity to a problem, and they certainly don’t have the wisdom or experience to allow past history to dictate answers for the future. What’s the worst that will happen? You may not get a new idea, but you often find that you’ve re-thought your problem by trying to explain it to someone wide-eyed and without prejudice. And isn’t that part of solving the problem too?
Tomorrow: the remaining five tips.
