How do you generate new ideas?

Continually question what’s been established as universal fact in your space. Here is a list to get you started: → How “should” we think of [subject] and who told us so? → Where does that lens reinforce black and white thinking? → How does that thinking hurt us? → Where’s the gray area? → Do the established facts hold up to events happening in the world right now? → If not, what does that mean for your community or audience? → Which of their pain points, goals, interests have other voices failed to explore? → Are there taboo topics or “gate kept” information in your space? → Why? → And is there value hidden in the silence surrounding them?

Listen to ideas from other industries. This is even easier today than it has been in the past. With the number of podcasts and webinars that are bound, it’s simple to logon and listen to the ideas that are being brought forward by industries, you may never have considered as wellsprings of information.

To uncover your most original thinking, you have to understand what’s in your way in the first place. Most of your best ideas don’t need to be brainstormed. They’re already part of what you do every day, in the conversations you hold and in the results you create every day, and for that reason, they become hidden in plain sight. You’ll overlook them because original ideas are deceptively simple and easy to overlook when you’re looking for something “big.” Create time and space to notice your own details. You might not be Steve Jobs. You’re never going to shake up the world by launching the iPod. But you can still become known for your ideas, among the right circles.

Working with businesses of different sizes and sectors, usually the challenge with original thinking is the mental permission to action original thinking. There is no shortage of innovative or great ideas, but getting outside help can help a brand accelerate their thinking, give themselves permission and then activate on the ideas.

Consume content that falls far outside your area of expertise. When you do, you won’t have to work for your eureka moments. Absorb intelligence from categories that are the opposite of what you do everyday. Maintain a knowledge diet that’s as varied as what you could consume at a mall food court. Your brain will do the work of forming and shaping new connections for you. All you’ll need to do is create time and space to listen to it. Fill your mind with so many angles that it resembles a kaleidoscope.

Be specific when you’re requesting feedback. A request such as “Can I get your thoughts on this?” is vague, whereas “Is it clear that after people read this they should then complete the worksheet?” is as clear as can be. Including 2-3 specific questions when you’re requesting feedback saves time for those supporting you, while avoiding overwhelming on your side of the equation. Last, only ask for feedback from peers, mentors, or clients who already understand what you’re all about. Gaining an objective outside perspective might sound sexy, but can often lead you down unproductive rabbit holes. Good feedback results from two things: 1. Great requests for feedback, and 2. Great sources of feedback.

Experiment small and often. Keep the stakes low as you flesh out new ideas. The best way to stress test your thinking is to experience it through conversation. Create a list of individuals or companies relevant to your area of expertise, commenting on their content with your ideas (make sure it’s relevant). Qualitative data is just as important as quantitative data. Your interactions will teach where your ideas resonate, contain gaps, or can be deepened with texture. You’ll also quickly learn which ones to leave on the cutting room floor.

Operate at the intersection of your desires and those of your audience, or you’ll get lost in the process of chasing improvement. Always weigh what you're observing against your original goals. If your insights align with what you're trying to achieve, implement them. If not, carefully question if it makes sense to adjust your goals (nine times out of ten, it doesn’t). As you generate new ideas and value for your audience, stay true to creating content that aligns with what you envision for yourself. Focus will keep your content authentic and sustainable for the long-haul.

Never force a new idea. The moment you’re struggling to think of what to share, is the moment you should revisit your existing content, rather than churn out something new. No one is paying attention to you 24/7, on every channel. The odds are that many of your audience members missed out on some of the expertise, knowledge, and vision you’ve previously shared. They benefit when you repeat yourself. Become skilled at repeating yourself. And here’s the real magic of this approach: Revisiting your old ideas often sparks new ones, without added effort.