Ideas are often generated at the beginning of a process when a team is presented with a challenge or situation that requires creative thinking. However, ideas are needed at many more points along the way.
For example, years ago while working for a TV station I was leading an effort to develop a program about the top golf courses along the east coast. What was interesting was that our team spent a tremendous amount of energy coming up with this idea and how to present the concept to senior management in order to obtain funding and support for the project. Finally the big day came when we assembled to meet with the station's leaders and pitch the show. About five minutes into the discussion one of the people reviewing our presentation asked, "what if it rains?" An awful silence engulfed the room. In a split second I realized that we had not spent time thinking creatively about the 'what if' statements we were about to be asked. We were so focused on what I will call the fun aspects of the project none of us had stopped to realize that we needed ideas on all those "messy" aspects of any initiative - risks, stakeholders, process flows, back-up plans, etc. Therefore, while everyone seems to want the next big idea, often the little ideas are the ones that determine the success or failure of a project. Side note: Thinking quick on my feet I responded with "well, we will be driving down the coast and then back up the coast so if it rains on the way down we can make up the video shoot on the way back." While there are obvious holes in that logic it seemed to calm people's concerns and we loaded up our clubs and hit the road a few days later.
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AuthorRich Trombetta is the President of The Innovation Company. Archives
May 2017
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