http://thinkinghow.com a journey into thinking, ideas, creativity and innovation Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:03:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2006-2007 steve@thinkinghow.com (thinkinghow.com) steve@thinkinghow.com (thinkinghow.com) http://thinkinghow.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpghttp://thinkinghow.com 144 144 a journey into thinking, ideas, creativity and innovation thinkinghow.com thinkinghow.com steve@thinkinghow.com no no http://thinkinghow.com/the-innovation-paradox/ http://thinkinghow.com/the-innovation-paradox/#comments Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:03:43 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=342 http://thinkinghow.com/the-innovation-paradox/feed/ 2 http://thinkinghow.com/an-honest-look-at-the-problem-gateway-to-the-solution/ http://thinkinghow.com/an-honest-look-at-the-problem-gateway-to-the-solution/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:23:32 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=307 http://thinkinghow.com/an-honest-look-at-the-problem-gateway-to-the-solution/feed/ 1 http://thinkinghow.com/11-creativity-bites/ http://thinkinghow.com/11-creativity-bites/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:41:44 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=305 http://thinkinghow.com/11-creativity-bites/feed/ 0 http://thinkinghow.com/caught-killing-an-idea/ http://thinkinghow.com/caught-killing-an-idea/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:10:35 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=276 http://thinkinghow.com/caught-killing-an-idea/feed/ 0 http://thinkinghow.com/does-brainstorming-still-have-value/ http://thinkinghow.com/does-brainstorming-still-have-value/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:51:35 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=262 http://thinkinghow.com/does-brainstorming-still-have-value/feed/ 2 http://thinkinghow.com/innovation-fails-to-deliver-in-the-us/ http://thinkinghow.com/innovation-fails-to-deliver-in-the-us/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:20:57 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=254 http://thinkinghow.com/innovation-fails-to-deliver-in-the-us/feed/ 1 http://thinkinghow.com/do-you-need-a-problem-to-innovate/ http://thinkinghow.com/do-you-need-a-problem-to-innovate/#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:03:02 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=252 http://thinkinghow.com/do-you-need-a-problem-to-innovate/feed/ 3 http://thinkinghow.com/innovation-in-a-down-economy/ http://thinkinghow.com/innovation-in-a-down-economy/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:36:51 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=243 http://thinkinghow.com/innovation-in-a-down-economy/feed/ 4 http://thinkinghow.com/two-words-to-boost-creativity/ http://thinkinghow.com/two-words-to-boost-creativity/#comments Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:40:30 +0000 Steve Swann http://thinkinghow.com/?p=235 http://thinkinghow.com/two-words-to-boost-creativity/feed/ 2 0:01:26 There are two words that can help us achieve more creative and innovative thinking. Those two words are “What if”. “What if” takes us from our current state directly to an imagined future state. It is an instant leap across a[...] There are two words that can help us achieve more creative and innovative thinking. Those two words are “What if”. “What if” takes us from our current state directly to an imagined future state. It is an instant leap across a creative chasm. The chasm could be narrow and shallow, wide and deep, or any combination in between. “What if” immediately suspends all and any constraints (real or imagined) and allows us to visualise the finished state. What  if … was bigger / smaller? What if … went this way instead of that way? What if … we do it / don’t do it on a Saturday? What if we added / left out …? What if… What if… The hard part of course is getting from the here and now to the imagined “What if”. It does need receptive and open minds ready to consider the imagined state. Every “What if” won’t be a winner, infact very few will have any “legs” at all. But, to get to that gem of an idea, that break-through thought, that innovative seed - start with “What if”. I’d love your feedback. Please leave a comment or contact me directly through the “Contact Me” button under my photo. Ideas, Innovation, Solutions steve@thinkinghow.com no no 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 0:01:07 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 the first articles suggests setting up an Idea Board in a common space eit[...] 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 steve@thinkinghow.com no no