Numerous clients have commented to me that they don’t see themselves as creative. They say they’re not good at coming up with ideas; rather they’re better able to run with an idea and develop it into a practical output. Personally, I think those individuals are selling themselves short.

In reality, very few people come up with a completely original idea. In fact there is a tendency to attribute breakthrough inventions and standout creative work to a single person. To do that is to ignore all the supportive work that has gone on around it and all the collaborative preliminary effort.

If I asked you who invented the light bulb, I suspect most of you would reply Thomas Edison when in fact he worked off previous inventions. Historians estimate that over twenty inventors worked toward the creation and design of the light bulb. Of these, Edison’s version was the most efficient.

Since then, others have continued to make improvements and the light bulb as we know it today, is a result of much time and effort. So in truth, creativity is often the result of a collective endeavour.

Research suggests that particularly tough problems often require the perspective of an outsider or someone not limited by the knowledge of why something can’t be done. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy working with client organisations from completely different sectors. It keeps me alert, my ideas fresh and I can question why things are being done the way they are from a position of curiosity rather than with any pre-conceived ideas.

So, if you think you’re running low on ideas and would like to get your creative juices flowing, start a conversation by leaving a comment below or give me a call on 0161 866 8573. I’d love to hear from you.