Innovation
20 questions technique
Innovation can be difficult. Setting a system in place to tackle a goal can help bring new ideas.
Management guru Brian Tracey has got a great ‘mind storming’ technique.
Get a blank sheet of paper and write your goal/problem at the top of the page. Make sure your goal is specific and stated in the personal, positive and present tense.For example, instead of just saying ‘I want to earn more money’ write down something like “I want to be earning £50,000 by April 2012.
Next, write down a minimum of 20 possible solutions. You’ll find this easy to start with but around the 15 mark you really have to start digging deep and that is where some of the answers might surprise you.
Once you’ve competed your list go back over it and select one idea that you can take immediate action on, such as a telephone call, arranging a meeting or sending an email.
It is important to do this the same day. You can work through/filter your other responses on subsequent days.
Try using this technique first thing in the morning and have some fun with it. It’s a real mental workout that forces to you to stretch yourself in the search for solutions.
