Have you ever been in an argument you just couldn’t win? No matter how many ideas or facts you produced or how eloquently you presented your case, the other side just kept saying “No way” or “It’ll never work.” Disconcerting and discouraging, isn’t it? Well, that’s the argument that I have in my head whenever I am brainstorming with myself about new idea or before beginning any innovative business endeavor.
For the record, I have personalities inside my head that act like a committee. One of the personalities is the voice for the creative. It knows no limits, loves to experience paradigm shifts, book flights of fancy, take leaps of faith, and is deeply intuitive. It sees the future full of ripe possibilities and barely recognizes obstacles.
Another personality is the voice of the pragmatist, the critical mind. It has its feet firmly planted in what it perceives to be the ‘real world’. It wants to know, right now, how a particular thought or concept is going to put figurative or actual bread on the table. It is extremely linear and methodical. It demands to know how we are going to proceed from one step to the next leading to a predictable result. It doesn’t like surprises and wants to avoid failure or disappointment at all costs.
When my creative voice has what it thinks of as a brilliant idea, my critical voice will immediately posit a million questions and obstacles. It does no good to argue or throw facts at the critical voice. For every argument the creative voice offers, the pragmatic voice counters with a scenario to demonstrate why the idea won’t work. It is very good at this and I become paralyzed.
Since both voices are vitally important parts of the process, I must give them the attention they demand. The key is to recognize when to allow each voice to have center stage.
When I am at my best, here’s what I do. I get an idea or an insight for something new and innovative, whether it be for a column, a book, or an improvement in my communications coaching and then I set aside brainstorming time. Here I put all the possibilities out on the table for the idea as it will be in its fully-formed manifestation, avoiding the “How is this going to work?” questions. When my critical voice asserts one of its arguments, I say inside my head, and as gently as possible, “Thank you for sharing, and you’ll have your full say soon.” The creative mind needs encouragement and the opportunity to express all of its ideas. Brainstorming is a delicate process and if I apply critical thinking in the inception phase, my creativity is stopped cold.
Once I have an array of approaches or possibilities to explore, I can let the critical voice into the discussion because its greatest skill is getting me from point A to objective B. It can make a plan, set priorities and complete tasks. It is plodding but has the tenacity and focus to move mountains, one shovel at a time. When the creative voice asks to go in an entirely new direction, to scuttle the old plan for a new inspiration or flight of fancy, I thank it for sharing and acknowledge that it will be heard from soon.
It is when I come to a crossroads, when a new direction is needed or re-envisioning is called for that I return my attention to the creative voice and ask for new ideas, inspirations and visioning.
This technique works well not only for me, but also with teams. At the inception phase, remind everyone on the team that you are brainstorming and that they will can get the best possible ideas if they suspend critical analysis until you have exhausted everyone’s creativity. Put every idea, no matter how outlandish, out on the table for consideration.
Then bring out the questions, access their critical thinking, narrow the field and develop a plan. This process helps everyone on the team to work more diligently on a project because everyone has a stake in the creation of the plan and everyone understands why other approaches weren’t used.
The end result for you, your team, or your company is a thoroughly thought out, innovative, and doable plan. The order of operations is vitally important here – create first; critique second. Then, you’ll have the best of all possible solutions. Everyone wins.
Dennis Tardan is a communications consultant and empowerment trainer. His passion is helping people to communicate their core messages with greater clarity, effectiveness and confidence. His company is Tardan Professional Development and he is based in Texas, USA. www.tardanprodev.com |
