Should you always give individual feedback when ideas are submitted?
January 12, 2009 by Stuart · Leave a Comment
Giving feedback on ideas submitted is essential, no matter how many ideas are generated. If you do not give individual feedback then the likelihood of further ideas being submitted is nil or at the very best greatly reduced.
The Creativity Cull
The word “cull” is possibly a bit extreme; it conjures up thoughts of killing and death. So often ideas are killed off before they even have time to take their first breath. We are excellent at telling anyone who comes up with an idea what is wrong with it, but we rarely stop to think what the benefits and values of the idea might be. This can be overcome using the Six Thinking Hats®, which encourages parallel thinking and ensures that all ideas can get a “fair hearing”.
Curl Up And Dye!!
October 28, 2008 by Stuart · Leave a Comment
Hey, what a really creative name for a hairdressers! There are many hairdressing salons with “clever” names but this has to be one of the best I have ever come across. How do people come up with such good creative ideas?
Where do you get your best ideas? In the bath? The shower? Out walking? Sat in the hairdressers?
How about at work? Very rarely do we get really good ideas when we are at work, which is a real concern if we want to find ways to improve our business.
Back to school and innovation
September 29, 2008 by Stuart · Leave a Comment
With the holidays and the one day of summer behind us it is back to school, back to work and back to innovation. The need to get back to work is well understood but we also need to go back to school to learn new skills and keep up to date. Technology and markets are changing so fast that we have to keep learning about what is new and how to use it. It is clear that in today’s taxing economic environment deploying new skills and working hard are essential – but unfortunately they are not enough.
How to teach “creativity tools” to anyone – regardless of background
The beauty of creativity and, indeed, thinking is that it can be taught; anyone can learn how to be creative or think smarter. It is no different to playing golf or tennis, you can learn how to do it. Admittedly some will be better at it than others.
New Deal and The Holst Group
January 28, 2008 by Stuart · Leave a Comment
In last week’s Daily Mail I was concerned to read that half of those on Labour’s “New Deal” are back on benefits in a year. My concern is not that this is a fact but that it has taken all this time for someone to recognise and publish the figures.
In so many cases we have got it wrong especially where the young unemployed are concerned. I work for The Holst Group who have been the European partners for Dr Edward de Bono and I am in fact de Bono Master trainer.
For several years I have run a course called “Thinking Smarter Not Harder” within the New Deal programme. The course is based on Edward de Bono’s thinking skills from the famous Six Thinking Hats and his Lateral Thinking techniques and tools.
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