How Members Ideate
When it comes to ideation in business, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
We’ve asked four GFSB members to share how they approach ideation in their fields. As you read, think about how you generate ideas and remember that sometimes, the best results come from trying something new.
Vicky Bishop, Vicky’s Natural Kitchen:
I find I need to be in a quiet place and relaxed for ideas or creativity to flow. Disconnect from the day to day, get out to nature or just looking out a window. Just let my thoughts wonder to random things. Daydreaming .. I love daydreaming up recipes or a menu or just a class or project. I need to be creating to be fulfilled.
James Barton, Barton Solutions:
At Barton Solutions, our approach to ideation is centered around meaningful discussions. We strive to avoid pointless conversations, as an idea holds little value without execution. However, once we identify an opportunity, such as a new premise or product launch, the four of us sit down and discuss it in detail. With our diverse experiences and varying viewpoints, we bounce ideas off each other to find the optimal middle ground that is both balanced and achievable. If there is a difference of opinion, we weigh the pros and cons of each perspective and typically reach a consensus based on logic and realism when evaluating ideas.
Chris Gomez, Techniq
At Techniq, our early ideation phase whether for marketing or web design is all about unleashing creativity. We invite every idea, no matter how wild, without any judgment. This open-minded approach sparks innovation. We then sift through these concepts, focusing on those that align with our goals. Sometimes, the most out-there ideas turn into our strongest solutions, showing that bold thinking can lead to real impact.
Graham Munday, On Purpose
My creative process applies to creating learning experiences or facilitating sessions with senior leaders on strategy and problem solving. It starts with Steven Covey’s ‘Begin with the end in mind’ and having really well defined outcomes. This is all too often brushed past too quickly. The ideation phase I find best done on the move, whether out walking the dogs on my own or pacing around and drawing on flipcharts as part of a creative team. Physical animation helps mental creativity. Once I have a sense of what could work this needs to be captured into a loose flow for development and co-creation with the end user. Once this to and fro is completed to everyone’s satisfaction a final more detailed flow for the event can be created, always focused on outcome not activity. That way there always remains scope for responding to what is happening in the room without losing sight of the goal.
How do you generate your best ideas? Do you thrive in a team setting, or are you at your most creative when working solo?
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