To make sense of the world around us we filter the multitude of information available to us. And our version of reality is dependant on our own unique perspective, beliefs and attitude.  And so, we tend to get stuck in specific thought patterns and the comfort zone of familiarity in how we tackle challenges. To paraphrase Picasso all creation is an act of destruction. Breaking these habitual thought patterns will help us consider challenges more creatively and generate fresh ideas and novel thinking.

Below are some suggestions of how you can break routine thinking patterns to create entirely new possibilities. 

 Spend time with a diverse group of people: We probably spend most of our time with friends, family members and work colleagues and a certain commonality of thought, language and values is likely. Spending time with people from different industries and with completely different interests compels you to consider life from a different perspective and encounter different ways of thinking and acting.

How about solving the problem in reverse? For example, if you are trying to create an excellent client relationship management programme first consider how to create an appallingly poor programme-what would that look like? E.g. you’d probably be unlikely to respond to clients’ queries quickly; you’d be unconcerned as to their actual needs and more interested in your available products/services. Then flip this around and the solutions include responding to clients in a timely fashion, anticipating their needs and perhaps even finding a solution for them before they realise there’s a problem. 

 Introduce different catalysts into your life: Introduce regular creative pick-me-ups into your life to ensure you maintain your receptiveness and openness to new influences, ideas and opinions. Some suggestions of how to stimulate fresh ideas, new connections and, quite literally, get you thinking outside of your self-created box include:

Perhaps you could walk to work (if you normally get the train/driver) and really focus on what you notice en route.

Or how about changing how your work area is set up, how you spend your lunch break and with whom?

What about visiting a gallery or an exhibition you would never normally go to or attending a talk or gig? How about reading a book/magazine or watching a film completely outside your area of interest?

Or perhaps, simply, get up an hour earlier and do something you normally don’t have time to do like having breakfast, reading the paper, going for a run.

The important thing is that you introduce the space in your life to stimulate fresh ideas, new connections and, quite literally, get you thinking outside of your self-created box.

What trends in the market place are particularly intriguing to you? What’s happening in other industries that you could use in your organisation? (My favourite source of trend related information is www.trendwatching.com )

 Working with someone new: Is there a possibility of working with someone you haven’t worked with before or even swapping projects? Make time to exchange ideas and brainstorm with others-great ideas often occur as a result of collaborating creatively with others. Get into the habit of listening to people and asking for their ideas-the more perspectives and experiences the better the mix of possible solutions.

Take action, make a prototype, road test an idea even if it’s not fully formed Feedback is very important and every result is an opportunity to learn something.

What went well? What will you do differently? Take time to reflect on your successes and failures and consider what new insights that gives you.

And finally, get into the habit of writing down your ideas, suggestions, thoughts in a notebook and get into the habit of reviewing it regularly. You never know, Bill Gates did, after all, pay $30million for Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook!

 

 

 

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