“One idea lights a thousand candles.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
As the name suggests, ideation is the process of generating new ideas. It’s a great way to develop new solutions for problems or challenges, but it can be difficult to get started. The good news is that there are many tools and techniques available for ideation, allowing you to find inspiration anywhere. Let’s get into it.
In Simple Terms: What Is Ideation All About?
Ideation is the ability to bring new and/or different ideas, objects, or actions into existence. Ideation can be thought of as a process that starts with an ‘association’, which triggers an ‘idea’. The creator then works on this idea, leading to modifications in the original idea, but still preserving some aspects of a said original idea. “Ideation” refers to creating ideas.
How To Encourage Ideation in The Workplace
It’s not enough to have an idea; you also need to evaluate it and then pitch it to your desired target, which is what successful innovators are so good at. But the essential step in the process of bringing ideas into being is Ideation and brainstorming – that’s where new ideas come from. There are many different ways for employees and managers alike to encourage Ideation in the workplace.
Still, if you want your business or company to thrive, you’ll need a culture where people feel comfortable taking risks and trying new things.
Here are 7 tips for making sure your organization encourages innovation:
1. Allow time and space
One of the most basic and often overlooked methods for promoting Ideation is to provide employees with adequate time and space to give their best. This includes having enough time for their work to process their thoughts and materials in a creative way at the end of the day. You can also allow your employees time during or after work hours for creative endeavors such as hobbies or arts & crafts. Ideation also shows up when your brain is engaged in the present moment and connecting two things together while in a relaxed state (in the car while you drive while taking a shower…)
2. Ideation
Ideation refers to any thinking that generates ideas. This can be done individually or in groups but usually involves discussions about what might be possible and what needs to happen in order for this goal to come true. It is an integral part of forming solutions and solving problems in organizations where innovation may not be happening, at least not regularly.
Tools are marvelous to support idea generation within a company, but you also need to put in action the process to collect, analyze, and manage them effectively.
3. Offer incentives
If there is a task or project that needs doing, consider offering an incentive for the team members who do it best. This does not have to be financial, but can also come in the form of time off from work, recognition from managers and peers, or any other reward that has a kind of meaning to the individual.
Even if those incentives could be linked with a much more legal part such as Patent creation remuneration, making sure the process within your company is settled and known, encouraging ideation is the best way to proceed.
4. Encourage risk-taking
If your employees feel as though they are limited in what they can do, it will be difficult for them to take risks and explore new ideas. This is because they are worried about not being supported if something fails or doesn’t work out as well as expected. Make sure to have a culture of openness where employees feel supported in taking risks and learning from any mistakes that they may encounter.
5. Improve communication
Better communication is a key factor in promoting Ideation because it means that everyone is on the same page about what needs to be done before starting a project or task and how it should be done.
Innovation and Ideation must be part of a well-communicated strategy to allow enthusiasm at all levels. Also, resources and processes that allow for feedback need to be set up and shared with all team members to avoid having a confusing black box.
6. Create a sense of community
Not only does it help for employees to be familiar with one another, but also the different roles and projects they are working on. A sense of community can be formed by having regular meetings or social events where every employee is present. This helps reinforce the teamwork aspect of creative problem-solving.
It would be good to involve people from different departments with different profiles to bring diversity to the forefront and break the natural barriers that can be found within rigidly structured organizations.
7. Promote leadership
Leaders can also be important drivers for encouraging Ideation within an organization because they say what needs to happen and make it so. This encourages employees to become more creative with their problem-solving processes to achieve the company’s goals. Influential leaders know the importance of delegating work and encouraging employees to participate in projects by asking their opinions. This way, employees have a sense of ownership over the project or task at hand and will be more likely to go that extra mile.
CreaGreen can help your team brainstorm better
Ideation is directly linked with a Creative session. The two together can be a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes that can be fostered and improved with practice. It helps to improve the internal communication, workflows, and overall Ideation of employees. If you’re looking to level up your game on how your organization can benefit from embracing Ideation in some form or another, check out CreaGreen’s Ideation and brainstorming exclusive programs.
Are you utilizing your team’s full creative potential?
At CreaGeen, we use our expertise to create an environment for internal Ideation to thrive, helping you re-energize and push your business forward.
Innovating. Creating. Connecting. Engaging.
