I read lots of great articles by innovation and creativity experts wanting to enable massive global organisations to be more creative. My niche is the reverse. I prefer to help the singular person, working solo, sitting in their cubicle and coming out every now and then for a brainstorm. For them, a new series in addition to my regular posts, entitled “Creative Jolt” ... (which is a shorter name than the original “XX Things You Can Do Right Now To Start Being More Creative”.) They're concise (well, for me), easy to implement, 'incremental innovation" if you will, served up for one.
Don't get alarmed: it's not about artistic skill. Instead, this tip forces your brain to work and think in a way it avoids. By expressing your problems and thoughts outside of its default method, your imagination often re-frames the problem. It might re-draw the problem in a new context, or from a different perspective. (This works in reverse for the visual person too: try 'drawing' your problem with words, or speaking them aloud. Again, do it in a way you normally do not.)
Get started ... Grab a bunch of coloured pens or texters an draw the problem on a flip-chart hanging on the wall. Use pictures, lines, scribbles and what-not. Draw the problem from the POV of the customer, a child - anyone not associated with the topic. Draw it backwards (from end point to creation). Upside down.
This is also a superb group brainstorm technique. Work quickly – 15, 20 minutes? – around a few sheets of paper hanging on the wall. It's important to make all of the ideas – both good and bad – visible to all brainstormers. You never know when one person might get focused on one of 'bad ideas' a few minutes ago, then blurts out a way to improve it.
And yes, consider 'standing up' a bonus creative tip.
If you have any of your own suggestions, please send them here. I'll post each individually in the future, and give you full credit.
