http://thinkinghow.com a journey into thinking, ideas, creativity and innovation Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:52:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Copyright © 2010 thinkinghow.com steve@thinkinghow.com steve@thinkinghow.com posts http://thinkinghow.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://thinkinghow.com 144 144 a journey into thinking, ideas, creativity and innovation steve@thinkinghow.com no no http://thinkinghow.com/ten-books-to-start-generating-original-ideas/ http://thinkinghow.com/ten-books-to-start-generating-original-ideas/#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:13:28 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=300 http://thinkinghow.com/ten-books-to-start-generating-original-ideas/feed/ 0 http://thinkinghow.com/simple-process-to-manage-your-ideas/ http://thinkinghow.com/simple-process-to-manage-your-ideas/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:46:26 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=298 http://thinkinghow.com/simple-process-to-manage-your-ideas/feed/ 0 http://thinkinghow.com/is-the-boss-always-the-problem/ http://thinkinghow.com/is-the-boss-always-the-problem/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:56:04 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=271 http://thinkinghow.com/is-the-boss-always-the-problem/feed/ 1 1:47 I've commented recently on the need to retain an innovative mindset to make the best of the current economic situation. In fact I'm certain that ... I've commented recently on the need to retain an innovative mindset to make the best of the current economic situation. In fact I'm certain that those who are creative at this time are building innovative businesses for the future. But what about everyone else? I'm not really a TV watcher but One Reality TV genre has me facinated and is providing some insights. It's the "business makeover" show. You know the type - Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, Ruth Watson as The Hotel Inspector, and Tabatha Coffey's Salon Makeovers. I'm sure there's others. I know that these are highly produced and edited for dramatic effect - BUT - they all have a common thread. The Boss is always the problem. So this made me think. If these programs highlight bad operators, what are the characteristics of a good operator? Here's a list that I've put together (in no particular order). What would you add or take off this list? Leave me a comment and let me know. Understand why customers choose you and make that experience better. Value every customer and put a value on every customer. Provides value to the customers (note: this does not mean cheap!) Builds good people and trusts them to deliver. Invests in quality infrastructure, systems and processes. Looks for ways to maximize revenue. Watches the pennies. Builds trusted relationships with experts and advisors. Doesn't do things just because everyone else does. Doesn't over complicate things (keeps it simple). All these characteristics create an environment where the objectives of the business are clear, risks are managed, and opportunities for creative thought are encouraged, welcomed, and actioned. So, if you're the Boss get your head around this list. And you can't don't blame the troops, they're doing the best they can in environment you've created for them. Go set the example and they will follow. Business, Doing, Inspiration, Problem Solving, Solutions, Thinking, Tools & Resources steve@thinkinghow.com no no http://thinkinghow.com/share-your-creativity/ http://thinkinghow.com/share-your-creativity/#comments Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:23:40 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=237 http://thinkinghow.com/share-your-creativity/feed/ 0 http://thinkinghow.com/getting-other-people-to-contribute/ http://thinkinghow.com/getting-other-people-to-contribute/#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:21:13 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=219 http://thinkinghow.com/getting-other-people-to-contribute/feed/ 3 1:07 I recently downloaded a great little ebook from Nigel Collin's website. It's a collection of 21 articles from Colin's Weekly Bits -The Early Years.  One of ... I recently downloaded a great little ebook from Nigel Collin's website. It's a collection of 21 articles from Colin's Weekly Bits -The Early Years.  One of the first articles suggests setting up an Idea Board in a common space either at work, or at home. Then you write up a problem and invite others to contribute to the solution. I'm going to give this a try. Colin makes the point, and I totally agree, that this is a great tool to foster creativity and  collaboration in an organisation. The phenomenon of blogging, the likes of twitter, other online networks, and commenting in general on the "net" have set the expectation that it's quite ok to anonymously or publicly contribute. Of course it helps if you have something of value to say. So perhaps the time is good for this very simple and low tech idea to produce some really creative outcomes. Ideas, Problem Solving, Tools & Resources steve@thinkinghow.com no no http://thinkinghow.com/sharing-your-ideas-with-others/ http://thinkinghow.com/sharing-your-ideas-with-others/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:05:23 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=208 http://thinkinghow.com/sharing-your-ideas-with-others/feed/ 1 http://thinkinghow.com/writing-a-problem-statement/ http://thinkinghow.com/writing-a-problem-statement/#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:11:23 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=121 http://thinkinghow.com/writing-a-problem-statement/feed/ 22 http://thinkinghow.com/more-than-one-solution/ http://thinkinghow.com/more-than-one-solution/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:54:49 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=100 http://thinkinghow.com/more-than-one-solution/feed/ 0 1:23 Have you ever needed a quick and tangible way to illustrate that there may be more than one solution to a problem? This might just ... Have you ever needed a quick and tangible way to illustrate that there may be more than one solution to a problem? This might just be the example you need. Start with three squares of paper. The Problem: each square of paper needs to be divided into 4 parts. The goal is for each part to be equal. So, after you have folded the paper each section of the paper will be the same size, same shape, and same volume as the other 3 parts. The illustration above shows 3 solutions, each following the rules but each having a very different outcome. One is a square, another a triangle, the third a rectangle. This excercise is useful for two reasons. First, it helps an individual or a group physically experience an abstract concept; the concept being that there can be more than one acceptable solution to a problem. Secondly, This example has a very good problem statement so it's a great way to set up people's thinking about defining problems before they tackle solutions. I'll cover problem statements in a the next post. Doing, Solutions, Tools & Resources steve@thinkinghow.com no no