Making space for generating ideas

Ideas

Fresh ideas keep us motivated. But chances are these ideas won't come when you're stuck behind your desk. It is necessary to create time and space for generating ideas and creative thinking.

While running a workshop earlier in the year, I was talking about the topic of generating ideas to the assembled group of soloists. I began by asking the simple little question:

“What’s so good about having ideas?”

The responses were immediate and served to confirm the importance of generating ideas if we are to develop our businesses and constantly evolve.

Quite clearly, if we’re not generating ideas we’re not really moving forwards in our work or our lives. Ideas signal an increase in clarity. They represent a solution to an existing issue or are the beginning of a new direction or action. Ideas open up new pathways. The pathways may be towards added prosperity, greater success, increased wealth, greater satisfaction and so on.

I’m not telling you anything you don’t know here, but when is the last time you put priority on creating time and space for generating ideas? It can be very challenging to advance and grow at the best of times and yet here we are not fully respecting our own talents to solve and create.

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Next I asked the group to tell me under what circumstances did they have their best ideas. Their responses really surprised me. Here’s what came up:

“When riding my motorbike”
“In the bath”
“When I’m on holiday”
“When reading fiction”
“While cycling”
“When I’m swimming”
“When I’m painting”
“When I’m deeply relaxed”
“When I’m playing with my children”
“At the Opera or a classical music concert”
“In the shower”
“When I’m out walking”

Notice anything really interesting here? Not one person said it was when they were working! I was stunned. I thought one or two people at least would have said their ideas came while at work.

What this says to me is that if we’re to approach our work with creative thinking, if we’re to find new solutions to problems, we must prioritise time away from our desks.

I guess this is what the Dalai Lama was getting at when he commented that whenever he has masses of work to do he meditates even longer than usual in preparation.

Imagine that. You’re so busy that you actually walk away from your work to get clarity and generate ideas to lessen the work you have to do. Fascinating stuff.

So how do we do this? How do we introduce ‘idea time’ into our busy lives? The answer is really very straightforward.

Firstly we need to determine when as individuals we have our best ideas. Often it’s when we are outside and it’s frequently associated with leisure and physical activity.

There’s so much talked about with regard balance between life and work. What this whole concept confirms is we need balance within our work. Put time aside – block it in your diary – to do those things you absolutely need to do. What’s more, make sure all those around you do the same.

An hour a day, or an hour every other day doing something that releases your creative juices will be far better for you and your business than an hour stressing out over an action list or project plan.

Prioritise time for generating ideas and you’ll reap the most surprising rewards.

In last week's 'leader', Robert asked 'when do you get your best ideas?' We've included your responses in the comments below so have a read and don't forget to add your own! - Ed

Robert Gerrish is Flying Solo’s managing director and founder and works as a business coach, professional speaker, business commentator and consultant. He’s the co-author of Flying Solo – How to go it alone in business.

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I'm always exploring new ideas and different ways to do things. For me the best Ideas come at point just before I'm about to wake up. And the strange thing is if I don't jot it down straight away the idea is lost. If I'm have a difficult time with an issue usually the solution appears at one of these early morning awakenings. Roy Robilliard from Australind, Western Australia
Surprise again ... I guess I'm one of those who DO get ideas at work - but then working from home is not the same as working in an office block. I feel free to be myself and will wander outside, sit on the swing and listen to nature, or walk on the treadmill if I have an ideas block. Sometimes reading research, or just surfing the net and reading articles on great websites like Flying Solo can inspire ideas also. Or a lunch with a friend or colleague. Karen from Springwood, NSW
In the shower or in the middle of the night. Chris from Stanmore
My best ideas arrive during a walk in the park - connecting with nature reminds me that there are connections between all things. I also have a regular practice when I use "focused attention" to help me develop an idea - all these ideas then go into a box which I sift through and draw on at a later stage. I always find - my best ideas - are the fun parts of work. Isabella from Sydney, NSW
I have a regular writing practice - four pages first thing in the morning - and find that even though the writing is focused on personal issues I need to keep my 'business ideas' notebook close because new ideas crop up so often! For me, the business ideas notebook is a key tool - it is small so can come everywhere with me. Forgetting it is a great way to guarantee an undisciplined rash of ideas...
Meditating is also a fertile process when it comes to feeling that 'ping!' of a great idea. Ali from Yacht Diego
My most productive ideas-time is between midnight and 3am. That's when the big ones roll in, at all other times I just refine and see them in a different light. I love night-time because my mind feels liberated and nude and free to run around everywhere. My corporate (yuk!) job tends to kill creativity and inspiration (i face a beige wall and spend all day typing little numbers into little squares on a screen- woo-hoo), so no good ideas then really. Listening to music helps me as well, because it conveys the mood i want to build into my brand. Ive also dreamt up a few interesting ideas, but then again most of my dreams are pretty nutty. Jonny C (C is for Cheeky) from Sydney

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