In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, leaders are faced with a pressing need for new ways of thinking and innovative solutions. During a recent IMI Membership webinar, Jay Chopra shared insights into the crucial role of creativity in driving business success.  

Jay highlighted that creativity is not an inherent trait; rather, it is a skill that can be learned and developed. By unravelling the creative thinking process and understanding its practical application, teams can effectively solve complex business problems and generate ideas with significant commercial value. To embark on this journey, it is vital to embrace and practice six key creative behaviours: indicating, trusting, sparking, fuelling, playfulness, and courage. In the webinar, we delved into a few of these behaviours, and how you can model them in your organisation.  

Overcoming Idea Killers 

During brainstorming sessions and meetings, it is all too common to encounter idea killers—phrases that hinder the free flow of creativity, such as “It won’t work,” “We’ve tried that before,” or “We don’t have time.” These expressions can stifle innovation and prevent the exploration of groundbreaking ideas. It’s important to overcome this negativity bias by allowing ideas to develop fully before passing judgement. In a similar fashion to nurturing a seedling until it blossoms, ideas require time and nurturing to reach their full potential. This process, known as “fuelling,” involves thoroughly exploring and developing ideas before evaluating their feasibility. 

To foster creative thinking, it is crucial to encourage teams to explore ideas that lie outside the realms of conventional thinking. There’s a quick exercise that you can do to help illustrate how we can go about exploring creative ideas in this way. Imagine a brainstorming session aimed at increasing revenue for an airline, where someone suggests placing seats on the wings of a plane. Rather than immediately dismissing this seemingly outlandish idea, it is essential to consider its positive aspects. By identifying the underlying positive concepts, teams can then explore alternative paths to achieve those desired outcomes without embracing the initial unconventional idea. This approach encourages innovative thinking and unlocks a wealth of possibilities. 

Einstein said that problems cannot be solved within the same framework in which they were created. To foster innovation, Jay Chopra we need to break free from habitual thought processes. There are a number of ways that you can incorporate creativity-enhancing techniques into brainstorming sessions, for example by creativity tools, bringing physical objects into the discussion, taking walks outside, or even having lunch with different individuals every day. By intentionally introducing novel elements into the thinking process, teams can develop fresh neural pathways and unlock new levels of creativity. 

The Wildest Idea Tool 

One powerful tool that can be used to facilitate paradigm shifts in thinking is the Wildest Idea Tool. This tool encourages teams to engage in a game-like activity where the objective is to generate the wildest ideas imaginable. By stimulating friendly competition and challenging one another to surpass boundaries, participants stretch their imagination and unlock innovative solutions. After generating a pool of wild ideas, the team can extract the key concepts embedded within them and explore alternative paths to achieve those concepts. This process not only fuels creative thinking but also enables the development of groundbreaking ideas. 

Traditional brainstorming sessions often result in fragmented thoughts that lack clarity and tangibility, and using a template like the Idea Developer is a good way to flesh out ideas. This structured template replaces scattered ideas with a comprehensive framework. By answering essential questions about the main features, customer appeal, and the core DNA of the idea, teams can articulate and communicate their concepts more effectively. Furthermore, visually representing ideas through drawings or diagrams enhances comprehension and fosters collaborative discussions. 

The Power of Expansive and Reductive Thinking 

There are two main types of thinking which need to be considered when generating new ideas – expansive thinking and reductive thinking. The problem is, these two mix like oil and water, so it’s important to indicate which type of thinking is required when. Expansive thinking, reminiscent of the uninhibited creativity of children, fuels the generation of novel ideas. On the other hand, reductive thinking, characterised by logic and practicality, refines and evaluates those ideas. A balance between these two modes of thinking enables teams to navigate the creative process effectively, leading to innovative and feasible solutions. 

In a world where innovation and adaptability are crucial for business success, cultivating creativity within teams has become paramount for business leaders. By embracing creative behaviours, overcoming idea killers, exploring beyond conventional thinking, and incorporating tools such as the Wildest Idea Tool and the Idea Developer template, business leaders can foster a culture of creativity and drive their teams towards groundbreaking solutions. By combining expansive and reductive thinking, teams can confidently navigate the challenges of today’s business landscape and propel their organisations to new heights of success. 

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IMI Corporate Members have access to webinars and in-person thought leadership events throughout the year. Find out more about Corporate Membership here.  

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FAQ

How can leaders cultivate a creative culture within their teams to enhance problem-solving capabilities and drive innovation?
Leaders can foster a creative culture by encouraging six key creative behaviours: indicating, trusting, sparking, fuelling, playfulness, and courage. By modeling these behaviours and creating an environment where unconventional ideas are explored rather than dismissed, leaders can unlock their teams’ creative potential and improve their ability to tackle complex challenges.

What strategies can leaders implement to overcome negativity and idea killers in brainstorming sessions, thereby enhancing team creativity?
To combat negativity in brainstorming, leaders should actively promote an open-minded approach, allowing ideas to develop fully before evaluating them. Techniques such as the Wildest Idea Tool can encourage teams to generate outlandish ideas without fear of criticism, fostering a safe space for creativity to flourish. Additionally, using structured templates like the Idea Developer can help clarify and develop ideas, ensuring a productive brainstorming environment.

How does the balance between expansive and reductive thinking contribute to effective team collaboration and innovation?
Balancing expansive and reductive thinking allows teams to harness both creativity and practicality. Expansive thinking encourages the generation of novel ideas, while reductive thinking refines and evaluates those ideas for feasibility. Leaders should clearly indicate which mode of thinking is needed during discussions, enabling teams to navigate the creative process effectively and produce innovative solutions that are also actionable.