Professional Development

Ideas Part 1: Ideas are everywhere

I love coming up with ideas to improve business. Most, if not all, of my “bright ideas” are no stroke of genius. Some are so obvious that I can’t help but wonder why I was the first person to suggest it. (Others are a little more radical and take a little bit more persuading.)

Of course, not all of my ideas are good. In fact, some are downright bad. But we’ll get into that later. First, it’s important to start brainstorming ideas.

Coming up with new ideas can:

• Help position you as a innovative leader
• Give others a chance to engage with you in strategic discussion
• Help improve your job function
• Help the bottom line

Why don’t more people come up with ideas to make improvements? My guess is most people are so caught up in their own worlds they fail to see the simple (and sometimes painfully obvious) answers right in front of them - or they just don’t care enough to try.

It’s also possible, and I expect quite common, that people DO come up with a good ideas; they simply don’t know how to present them effectively so they get properly implement. We’ll also get into this later.

So, where do these ideas come from? Sometimes ideas just come to me (usually in the shower – there’s just something about a shower that inspires, I guess), and during these times, I have to recognize it as an idea and decide to go forward with it.

But, a lot of times I actively work to come up with an idea. Here’s how to do it:

Strive to solve an existing problem. Start by writing down the problems with a certain process or project. Next, write down how the process or project would be if it were perfect. Sometimes it’s really that simple. You see the missing piece between Part A and Part B – that’s your idea!

Look (and listen) for inspiration. Stay on top of business and technology best practices. This allows yu to use the ideas that others have come up with and apply them to your particular need. Also listen when others speak. Sometimes they have great ideas that they haven’t even recognized as ideas. Ask them if you can use their inspiration for your ideas.

This isn’t the same as stealing ideas (although “stealing” can be ok to do as long as you ask permission and cite your source). It’s searching for inspiration and adapting it to your needs.

Always be open to “new” ideas. Ideas are everywhere. You have to open to them from anywhere and from anyone. A child swinging in the park can inspire your next marketing slogan and your dog’s wagging tail can help you see the best path to your next deal.

Just start jotting down your ideas!

But, know this:
They won’t all be great.
They won’t all be new and fresh (let’s face it, there’s no such thing as a new idea).
Some will even be pretty bad.

Don’t let that stop you.