This post is going to require that I talk about myself first. I know that is a bit unusual for Invent Creativity, however the story is relevant to the discussion. Have you ever sat down to figure something out on the fly? As you start to think a sudden voice pops into your head and it sounds something like this…
“How am I going to fix this?”
“I don’t know what I am doing…”
“Is this even possible?”
“What if they don’t like my idea?”
“Maybe I am not the person for this?”
“Its been done so many times, how am I going to make it better?”
Lets be honest here. We all get these voices that talk us out of things and inhibit us from moving forward. I admit that I get these voices; voices of doubt and most of all fear of rejection. We are wired to talk ourselves, which is what we call the simple concept of “thinking”. Often it is by hearing another story of rejection, or another story of failure. If you are busy listening to this voice how can you actively channel your thoughts to solve the problem?
When I was going to college, I choose a design school where I faced a new unapparent challenge. I was put in a room with hundreds of other creative individuals who had a similar thought process as I did. Eventually we were competing for the A in the class by having the most creative projects and executions. From the very beginning I started to hear that voice, and the times I felt more pressure I would hear more voices of doubt and concern.
Luckily one day as I was sitting down to work on a project I realized after three hours I had gotten nowhere. My advertising campaign had no concept and the deadline was only a couple days away. At that moment I realized, the only reason I had gone nowhere was because of the voice. That very voice slowed me down and made me feel like I was a creative hack. I mean come on, three hours and no ideas? I realized that instead of focusing my energy on what I needed to solve, I focused it on that negative voice.
The moment I started to catch myself is the day I started executing my projects more naturally. Ideas started flowing left and right. It was a matter of positive mental clarity. All it took was realizing when the voice becomes negative and hitting mute. Eventually the voice dies down, and it becomes just another sound in the crowd. The real positive voice that helps you solve problems is the one you want to listen to. It is the voice that inspires great ideas. So if you are still stuck in the same boat of problems, what are your thoughts focused more on? Solving it so you can fix it, or wondering about it so you can think about it over and over again?
I wanted to graciously thank Mitesh for his kind introduction and for the readers who have been consistently supporting our creativity. I refer to this as ‘a work of art’. Before I do start, I would like to apologize for my delay in writing my first post.
As strange as it sounds, I have been wondering what I can possibly write about I mean this will set the tone for future postings right? It is not always easy but I ask my fellow readers to feel free to send me suggestions on topics that they would want posted on this site. I believe that the best way to keep the communication lines open is to really just ask for feedback. It never hurts and I firmly believe that you will be a creative person because of it. (But that is just my 2 cents!)
Now is the time for all of us to take a step back whether we like it or not. I am sure all of you have noticed that as a society we are constantly moving not realizing that we can make our lives simple by finding creative ways to do so. For example, I was browsing the internet and noticed that almost every major headline or eye-opener was a list of over a dozen creative ways to almost do anything! I know that all of you out in cyberspace notice it too:
10 simple ways to save money at the gas pump
Workout at home with these simple moves
Meals in under 30 minutes
I am sure that you get the point. We are always in a rush to get things done, or to get to our destination. It really makes me wonder why don’t we just put simple methods in practice to alleviate stress and enjoy life? As cliche as it sounds, we are conditioned to continue in a cycle and we aren’t used to change. This takes time and if we want a simple solution we will try it and if it works its great and if it requires that we put in ‘time’ we believe that it is not worth it. Let’s take a step back and change that method of thinking and just try simple things and see how your creative thought process will change. If we as a society did all the little things to make our lives better imagine the possibilities!
As a creative myself, I would like to share with you some techniques on how to get your creativity working towards your benefit.
Take 30 minutes everyday to just relax, I find that listening to music works for me.
As a kid at heart, I find that coloring with Crayola crayons brings you back to your childhood and can really help you unlock your creativity (I also want to note that the late Randy Pausch also believed in this)
If you can have a simple workout regimen at least 3 times a week you would be surprised how much energy you will have and you will also be healthier
So my fellow readers, I ask that you at least try one of the above suggestions and see what it does for you. You will find that this will take time but creativity needs you the individual to be at 100%. That is it for now fellow creatives!
10 greatest mistakes people make while in a brainstorming session.
Leading a Brainstorming session as a group/team is a great way to bounce ideas. But how many people do you need to involve, and when is it to many people? For starters, brainstorming sessions I have been apart of have been as few as one other person to as many as forty people. I have witnessed and been intertwined in groups as upwards to forty or so people, but quickly found that only a select two or three individuals will actively participate, another couple individuals will interject every now and then, and the rest sit there and node, smile, and usually yawn.
A group of say up to six individuals works best. Everyone participates because the environment forces them not to stay quiet. It is easy to make connections with everyone in the room. Bouncing ideas is apart of creating synergy, and that synergy exists in smaller environments. My most successful sessions have been with just another person. Advertising agencies are notorious for this approach. A team of two will concept for a client. But at the same time there will be three to four other teams attempting the same project. Only one idea will win, but it is a way to find more ways to solve a problem.
You know that voice in the back of your head, “How will I ever solve this.” Eventually seconds go by turning into minutes, and all you have really done is questioned your own ability to think creative.
Try and stop that voice before it becomes subconscious where you think your trying to solve the problem, when really you’re repeating the same phrase over and over again. Usually when people are in this state, they always give feedback in the group that goes something like this. “I don’t know.” “I just can’t think of anything today.”
So make it a note as of today, if that voice comes in your head, stop early so you can really focus on the problem rather than creating your own mental problem.
Some people are wonderful at coming up with ideas on fly, and for all of you who have that innate ability, congratulations. However, there are far more individuals who simply do not have the necessary practice to solve problems on the spot let alone do it creatively. That must be kept in mind before calling a brainstorming session. Allow your team to prepare with notes, research, and maybe a few ideas here and there to get the ball rolling prior to the session. One very successful session I was involved in required that we submit our ideas prior to the session. It helps place a focus, and really breaks through the problem of number 9.
Creativity requires a great deal of imagination and many thoughts are processed during that time. The mind can only stay stimulated for a certain period of time. Therefore if your sessions are stretched out to anything more then thirty minutes, it may not be as effective as it could be if split up during different parts of the day or throughout the week.
The mind needs to get away from things in order to come up with the best solution. Some people find their ideas in their sleep. Some of my best ideas have come during abnormal activity, working out, driving, surfing the web, and looking at random images. Allow your team to get away from the problem, it can actually be the best thing you can do.
Brainstorming sessions should have rules but keep them simple. I have been in sessions where the moderator insist that no one walk around, raise your hand to provide input, offer criticism to the previous idea before adding or stating a new idea and frankly the list goes on. Here are a few rules that I use when moderating.
Get up and walk around the room
Do whatever it takes to keep your mind stimulated and stay comfortable
Leave your phone(s) at your desk unless it is an emergency
Bring things to eat and drink
Make the session conversational and open
Criticize ideas after we are done
I’m sorry to say this, but not everyone can lead a successful brainstorming session. Many times brainstorming sessions are treated like meetings with a formal agenda and documentation that must be read and presented etc. I find that the moment there is an “authority figure” in the session, individuals are afraid to present their ideas. Productivity increases when individuals are less afraid to perform or say the wrong thing. Therefore, if you know you are an authority that frightens your team from time to time, maybe you should stick the sessions out, and leave the job to a capable facilitator. Someone who can keep the team on track, take wonderful concise notes, and most of all, can engage the group in an active conversation.
If you have uncomfortable chairs that people just cant sit still after five minutes, consider changing them out. If you have a small room that cramps everyone together, consider expanding (if you have the budget of course), or consider moving the meeting outdoors at a local park. If you have a table that won’t accommodate everyone’s things and begins to look like clutter with everyone’s pad and computers, consider a larger table. If your walls look sterile, no pictures, white, and boring, consider spicing things up. Make the environment as comfortable as possible, it can greatly help increase employee efficiency and well worth the dollars spent for the million dollar ideas coming out of them.
Brainstorming sessions are meant to be fun and exciting. It is your chance to think wild and imaginative thoughts, regardless of the problem (and if for some reason you are reading this and thinking “are you kidding me” you already have the wrong mindset). Learn to relax and let ideas flow, and to listen to others. It can help stimulate your own thoughts and place things in perspective.
Keep this in mind, just because you maybe the leader of the team, it doesn’t mean you have to be the one with the ideas. You are in your position because you understand what works and what doesn’t, because you have good judgment calls, and most of all because of your leadership qualities. That is why it is ok to let someone else have the fame, after all that is the point of the session. So take number three and blend number two together and you will find your team is also more relaxed.
If it is anything that can ruin a brainstorming session, that would be the negative criticism presented while ideas are flowing. Negativity causes people to one, feel like they let the boss down by presenting a weak idea, when in fact could have been salvaged if the remark was more positive. Two, it un-relaxes not just the person being criticized but also everyone in the room. People want to share their ideas, but not if they are going to get shot down. If that is your attitude, do the team a favor and don’t attend the session. Plus on top of all that it makes the environment less conducive. People need nurturing and assurance, regardless of the person. Therefore work as a team and help one another out.
