Innovation likely won’t happen in your business, if you don’t have a way to capture new ideas. These are the fleeting thoughts that suggest a new way of doing something.
Some may be worthless, some may be game changing. All should be considered, in a rapidly changing marketplace.
Here are some tips to help you make sure you maximize emerging creativity in your business:
Capture New Ideas
For many, the problem is that we have a new idea but then we get busy. Before long that spark of inspiration has left our memory. For instance, I may have a thought about a new section in one of my keynote presentations that matches up well with a client.
You need a system to help you capture your new ideas. I use a small notebook. When I think of a new idea, I open the notebook and quickly write down a few words about the thought.
While this is a low tech solution, it’s something that travels well with me and is easily accessible. Some may prefer note taking software like Evernote. Whatever tool you select, keep these things in mind:
- It has to be something that is easy to use, as you may only have a few minutes to write down your thoughts, before they vanish;
- Make sure it can easily go with you, as you may have some of your best ideas, when you are away from your desk;
- Don’t use multiple technologies or lots of Post-it Notes to capture new ideas. You really need one place where you store them.
Review Your Ideas
The best ideas are worthless if they only exist in a file. Set calendar reminders for you to take a few minutes to review your ideas. You may be surprised at how many you forgot.
Decide if the idea should become an action item, held for a better time, or removed from your list.
Determine the frequency of your review sessions. Some do them once a month, while others perform them more often. The key is making sure it is a scheduled activity. If you leave it to chance, busy days will likely result in you never reviewing your notes.
Research Your Ideas
You’ll need some time to figure out whether the idea can work in your business. This may require you to do some research and talk to colleagues or people outside your organization. From this process, you can create a roadmap for your next steps.
It’s possible your idea may need some further adjustment or it may only work in certain market conditions. A good idea that is not used, right away, is not a bad idea.
Share the Ideas
Anyone in an organization can have a good idea for how to do things better. Make sure people have an opportunity to share their thoughts.
I believe this needs to be more personal than just putting a piece of paper in a suggestion box. Face to face interaction can lead to a productive conversation about the ideas. Have the courage to say, “What if?”
Make sure your workplace culture creates an environment where sharing ideas is encouraged and time is set aside for the process. Ultimately, you want innovation to become a habit that is performed automatically.
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