IBM has recently released a commercial that shows a group of employees lying a conference room ideating. In my searches, I have noticed that many bloggers that have posted about ideating seem to have shed a negative light on this idea. I’m on the other side of the fence, I think that having an environment that supports ideating and incubation of ideas will lead to things you may have never done. The beginning of the year is always a great time to think about the strategies your company uses to implement and test new ideas. If you are not constantly coming with new ideas, how are you remaining competitive? I know in the high-tech space, a company without creativity does not exist or at least not for long.
Another important idea: If you’re in a leadership role and your employees come to you with ideas, make sure you do not “fire hose” their ideas. Not all of their ideas will be the “one,” but killing their enthusiasm on one idea will enable them to stop being creative and working to improve the company. Take time to listen and work to find even the smallest amount of value in their idea and point them in the right direction for future ideas. (Fire Hose Hat tip: Julia Marrocco)
UPDATE: I finally found the actually video on YouTube. Watch it below.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
