The Free Thinking Method is an excellent way to create and bring to market great ideas. Let’s have a look at 10 different ways that you can use this tactic to enhance your team’s creativity.
Work on one step per week, and before you know it, you’ll be on your way to creating an environment where ideas flow freely all the way to the marketplace.
1: An Open Mind
Consider your first reaction when faced with a new idea. You might admit that you frequently feel compelled to analyze and criticize new concepts or directions. For tiny seedlings of ideas to grow into big innovations, we must open our minds and defer judgment.
Remind yourself that idea generation and idea evaluation are different, equally-important modes of thinking, and that you’ll work most effectively using one mode at a time. When you’re generating ideas, suspend your disbelief and try to say yes to everything. And then when you’re evaluating ideas, look for the value in every idea presented. Turn off the grading system that was drilled in your head in kindergarten, and think of how exotic, exciting, and excellent that idea can be. Phrase any concerns you might have in constructive ways that build and refine.
2: PIBs (Pluses, Issues, and Builds)
Build and refine ideas with a simple process of pluses, issues, and builds. First, state the Pluses for the idea—what are its upsides and what does it add value to?
Next describe your Issues as questions, wishes, or desires. For example, instead of creativity-stopping complaints like “We don’t have the money for this idea,” state this concern as a how-to” or I-wish statement such as “I wish to find another way to finance this idea.”
Now the creative engine gears up again so that you can generate Builds for the idea—ways to solve the concern and move the idea forward.
3: Absurdity
If an idea makes you laugh, pursue it further. Sometimes the most absurd suggestions lead to the best solutions. Focus on the ideas you have energy and passion for, no matter how crazy they may seem. It’s much easier to rein in a silly idea than it is to expand a dull one.
4: Diversity
The creative dream team should include people with different skill sets, backgrounds, personalities, and perspectives. Bring in external resources for a fresh perspective from unrelated fields. If you’re working alone, think outside of your own perspective—“How would a teacher, sculptor, or dentist solve this problem?”
Follow Woodrow Wilson’s example: “I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.”
5: More, More, More
To discover truly creative solutions, strive for quantity. After you’ve unearthed the tried and true, dig deeper to find ideas that surprise you. Linus Pauling said it best: “The only way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas.”
6: Freshness
It is possible to recapture the curiosity that was a natural part of your childhood. Seek out new ideas and fresh perspectives, and collect things that interest you. Constantly refresh your sources of inspiration. Hold a team meeting in a totally new environment, like an art gallery, mountain lodge, or children’s museum—a space designed to take you away from the everyday distractions of your office. Create a Fresh Thinking Day and invite experts from outside of your industry to speak at your company, or visit an expert in their workplace. Force connections between fresh stimuli and your challenge by asking yourself, “What ideas would this suggest for my problem?”
7: Realness
To breathe life into new ideas, find a way to visually represent abstract concepts. Build a new product model out of play-doh or draw a picture of your key strategies. Research suggests that visuals increase understanding and acceptance of new ideas, leading to a better chance of implementation.
8: Momentum
Idea generation is usually the easiest part of the innovation process; it’s the implementation phase where things tend to break down. To ensure that great ideas become true innovations, create an innovation plan—a detailed outline of what must happen, who will do it, and by when. Add to this plan a list of momentum breakers—that is, the people and processes in your organization that might take your ideas off track. Problem-solve to overcome the potential challenges posed by the momentum breakers. Engage the support of an idea champion—a person with the power to take your new ideas further.
9: Celebrate Failure
Taking risks and failing is an essential part of the innovation process. Celebrate failure to show that trying new things is more important than getting it right the first time. Throw a Failure Party to remind people that Edison built 3,000 lightbulb prototypes before he found success.
10: Be the Change
To bring a more creative mindset to your organization or team, model the creative behavior you’d like to see by listening generously, participating fully, and building on ideas. Listening generously means truly listening to understand ideas, rather than rehearsing your responses and criticisms. Participating fully means offering all of your ideas, no matter how small or unfinished they may seem to you. Your idea nugget may spark a build for a colleague. Listening, participating and building on ideas helps to create an environment where ideas flow freely.
A version of this article was published in 2010 by Michelle Conrad on InnovationManagement—this updated and expanded version is available only to InnovationManagement members.