Mike Skidmore
23 Lodersfield Lechlade Gloucestershire GL7 3DJ - contact Cathy Shaw on T: 01367 252 206 E: cathy@mike-skidmore.com
1. Preparation
2. Focusing
3. Drawing
4. Time test
5. Highlights
6. Framing
Getting the best out of creativity
The starting point on the creative journey can be enriched by knowledge or damaged by assumptions.
Being clear about objectives, influences, and metrics is essential to achieve value.
Being clear about objectives, influences, and metrics is essential to achieve value.
A creative forum can easily stifle the contribution of participants. Confidence issues, concern about ‘other priorities’, prejudices about other stakeholders, and skepticism about the business’ appetite for following through, can all dilute progress.
It is best to break a problem down into component parts, so that each can receive special attention. This generates many more ideas and threads and prevents inward thinking.
Deciding which ideas to progress requires a methodology that strikes the right balance between objectivity and instinct.
The spirit of an idea is often lost because we dwell on it too long and talk ourselves out of its merits. Better to stop early and impose 'time' on an idea, than risk losing a viable option.
Presenting ideas in the right context is critical if support for any initiative is to be received. This means addressing the needs of individual audiences to win them over.
Explain why this is relevant to an audience
Highlight the specific benefits to them
Address issues of cost - the effort and time required to make this successful
Use the internal PR machine to the full....
Celebrate achievement
Recognise contribution
Create anticipation
Build belief in the business’
capability and future
Highlight the specific benefits to them
Address issues of cost - the effort and time required to make this successful
Use the internal PR machine to the full....
Celebrate achievement
Recognise contribution
Create anticipation
Build belief in the business’
capability and future
Clarify the goals and why they are important
Map whose views are influencing the initiative
Map the practical and emotional factors at play
Identify perspectives that are complementary or contradictory
Agree what success 'looks and feels' like
Plan for communicating progress and achievements
Map whose views are influencing the initiative
Map the practical and emotional factors at play
Identify perspectives that are complementary or contradictory
Agree what success 'looks and feels' like
Plan for communicating progress and achievements
Avoid 'judgement' on ideas, and regularly acknowledge contributions
Use inspirational stimulus material and engaging tools
Avoid lengthy presentations
Bring fun into the session
Eclectic groups challenge assumptions and create serendipity
Mixing up breakout teams breaks down barriers and injects new life into sessions
Use inspirational stimulus material and engaging tools
Avoid lengthy presentations
Bring fun into the session
Eclectic groups challenge assumptions and create serendipity
Mixing up breakout teams breaks down barriers and injects new life into sessions
Go for quantity of ideas
in the first instance
Build confidence by always seeing the positive in contributions
Explore the same issue from different perspectives and starting points
Follow and exploit connections, coincidences and common threads
Pass ideas on - fresh eyes see new opportunities
Stop regularly to assess output and check against goals and measures
in the first instance
Build confidence by always seeing the positive in contributions
Explore the same issue from different perspectives and starting points
Follow and exploit connections, coincidences and common threads
Pass ideas on - fresh eyes see new opportunities
Stop regularly to assess output and check against goals and measures
All ideas are valuable and should never be lost - reinvention is the mother of all innovation!
Categorise ideas into areas such as, not for now, needs work and let's give it a go!
Think of an idea as a person:
What are their most memorable features?
What are their qualities ?
What are the highlights that will capture a viewer?
Does the whole package feel like someone you can relate to and trust?
Categorise ideas into areas such as, not for now, needs work and let's give it a go!
Think of an idea as a person:
What are their most memorable features?
What are their qualities ?
What are the highlights that will capture a viewer?
Does the whole package feel like someone you can relate to and trust?
In a group situation once negativity towards an idea starts, it quickly becomes popular
We always see things clearer with fresh eyes - take a look at the letter you wrote yesterday!
Exploring an idea after a time-lag can turn a good idea into a great one!
We always see things clearer with fresh eyes - take a look at the letter you wrote yesterday!
Exploring an idea after a time-lag can turn a good idea into a great one!
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