So much of what we do in the world of communications stems from having good ideas and getting to the root of problems and challenges. Whether you are trying to understand a client brief or pitching for a new piece of business, getting creative and thinking outside the box can make all the difference.
Sometimes however, good ideas can be hard to come by – four people sitting round a table chatting through the problem while flicking through a five page brief isn’t always the best environment for coming up with the goods.
To really make an impact, you’re going to need to put a bit more thought into it and even if you’re short on time, there are ways you can make sure you are using the time you do have more effectively.
The following are five key principles to bear in mind when you are next looking at holding a meeting or brainstorming session.
Be Prepared
If you’re leading a session make sure you have done your homework. Ensure your brief or challenge is clear and concise and easy to digest. I’d recommend creating a simple one pager to share with the rest of the group so they can all get up to speed quickly.
Be Brave
Why is it kids are so creative? Free from inhibitions, their imaginations run riot and they are not constrained by what’s right or wrong. Who knows what great ideas we might have if we embrace our inner child, be brave and let our creative juices flow without any boundaries.
Be Curious
Whether by taking an interest in other people or being curious about the world around us, curiosity is key to widening your thoughts and stimulating your brain. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut of work and family life but to be truly creative you need more. Read books, go to galleries, meet new people, ask questions, look around you – properly look. Not only is all this good for you generally it allows you to see things in a different light which is vital when coming up with ideas.
Be Stimulated
Make sure your environment is inspiring. Think about whether any props would help. From bags of Haribo to piles of magazines to help you understand the target audience, sometimes it’s the little touches that make all the difference. Also think about the actual room you’re in. Take the team out of the office to get a fresh perspective – on a hot day why not hold your brainstorming session at the park?
Be Energetic and Positive
Energy and positivity is contagious. You need high levels of energy to keep focused and keep a group working well together. Hit the right note from the start by introducing an energiser at the beginning of an ideas session. Depending on how brave you feel this could be anything from playing ‘name that tune’ to wearing blindfolds and drawing pictures of Micky Mouse. It might be a bit awkward at first but from experience I know it’s a sure fire way to get people out of their day to day work mentality and to create a buzz in the room from the off.
So whether you are reaching for a bumper pack of Percy Pigs for the next brainstorm or off to the Tate Gallery remember these helpful tips and try something different next time you’re faced with a client problem and need some fresh thinking.