Breakthrough Ideas

The Access HR Team | 1 Mar 2007 12:33 AM

Breakthrough or innovative ideas sets aside organization’s top employees (world-class players) from the rest.  Without innovation, companies cannot grow, and their products, services and people can become stale.  Marketing, sales and business development are traditionally thought of as the idea makers, although these days everyone in the company has a responsibility to be creative.

The Four Steps to having Breakthrough Ideas:

  1. Where Do I Start?

Identify problems that you can apply some creative thinking to.  It is important that you give the matter your close attention and collect as much related information as possible.  You must understand the problem before being able to think of a solution. Always bear in mind the outcome and effect to your solution.  Discuss with others to obtain a wide scope ensuring you will be addressing the whole problem.

  1. Be Inspired;

Inspiration comes from everywhere – be receptive and constantly open to new influences, opinions and ideas.  You don’t need to be in the office to think of the idea, you may be in the car, at gym, or in the shower.  Work out when your best thinking time is and channel it.  When it comes to recognizing a good idea, listen to your subconscious.  If you’re excited, chances are – others will be too.

  1. Change your outlook

New ideas and fresh solutions are not generated by taking the same approach to solving every problem, or by following orders.  Be prepared to try something new and challenge the conventional method.  Even if it transpires that a tried and trusted method looks like the best bet, is there an innovative twist you can take to improve the results?

  1. Unleash Your Creativity

Ideas can come when we are on our own but more often as a result of collaborating creatively with others.  Hectic offices aren’t always the best environment to create a creative thought, so organise  brainstorming sessions away from the workplace.  It is important that everyone is given the opportunity to put their thoughts and ideas forward – the more perspectives and experiences that come to the table the better. 

Source; HR Resource Magazine – October 2006