Where Do Great Ideas Originate?

A major stimulant to creative thinking is focused questions. There is something about a well-thought question that often cuts to the heart of an issue and triggers new ideas and vision.

Questions Stimulate Creative Thinking

Some of the best questions I've found for business problem solving are the following:

Question #1 "What are we really trying to do?" Whenever you become frustrated with slow progress for any reason, step back and ask this again and again, "What are we trying to do?" Don't take anything off the table. Everything should be open to discussion and, if needed, DESTRUCTION.

Question #2 "How are we trying to do it?" If you are experiencing resistance, DO RESEARCH! Be willing to objectively step back and look at your approach, asking, "How are we trying to do it?" " Is this the right way?" "Is there a better way?" "Are we wrong?" Have the confidence to ask
the tough questions. It requires courage to face the possibility that you may be wrong but it also leads to your seeing new possibilities. The rule is: Always decide what's right before worrying about who's right.

Another good question is, "What are we assuming?" About everything in your life and / or the
business? What are these assumptions and where do they come from? Assumptions can be incorrect and, as someone once said, "Errant assumptions lie at the root of every failure". What if your unspoken or implied assumptions were wrong? What would you have to do differently?

Action Exercises

Here are two things you can do to trigger more and better ideas.

First, be very clear about exactly what it is that you are trying to do. Write it down and describe it as if it were already achieved.

Second, question your assumptions continually. What if there were a better way? Be willing to try something completely different.

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