How to not get what you want
What does this sign say to you? The highlighted message is “don’t clean your hands”! But look again. “don’t” and “clean your hands” are different colours. So, great visually, but as to what you’ll remember and say to yourself - not so much.
This is not just true of personal behaviour. I notice that a lot of organisations pursue mashed-up or plainly negative goals.
Take Microsoft. Their search engine is called BING “Because It’s Not Google”. But what IS it?
Do you have any negative or ambiguous goals at work?
Moving back to move forward better. Is Apple about to go Yang?
Much feverish speculation that Apple will be bringing out a new Tablet computer (on 26th January. e.g. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/win-an-apple-tablet/). I hope they do!
A lot is made of their obsessive secrecy. Another way of looking at this is that they retreat into privacy whilst developing new products, become very visible when they launch, then disappear again.
You could look at Apple’s 2009 and read that as a period of consolidation, of deliberately drawing back from the public before launching into 2010. In 2009 the main outward signs of life were tweaks to the Mac OS, iPhone and iPod.
A sort of Yin and Yang thing. And Yin is not retreat or defeat. It’s a regrouping, refinding your balance, taking the measure of your oponent, scanning the environment, taking time to think, then springing forward with focus and energy.
Next time you have a tricky problem, try drawing back from it, get some perspective and - when you’re ready - move towards it with renewed energy.
At this time of year we get a lot of advice about setting personal goals, clarifying our vision and so on. For a lot of folk this creates a kind of performance anxiety - “I don’t know what my vision is”. Give yourself a break! It’ll come to you in time.
Got an idea? Great. Now sit on it!
I once read some advice on how to stop “shopping therapy” (~ buying stuff you don’t really need!). Keep a list on the fridge and add any “ooh, I must have that” stuff to the list. If you still want it in 30 days then get it.
For a lot if us, the problem is having too many ideas and wanting to do everything. TMI (http://www.tmiworld.com/tmi/site/Home/) advised always having a page for ideas in your Time Manager. Get ideas out of your head as soon as possible and review your list every now and then to see what grabs you.
This has resurfaced in Getting Things Done (GTD - http://www.gtdtimes.com/) as the “Someday/Maybe” list.
Try it yourself. At the very least you’ll keep a clear head, making way for new ideas to come along, and eliminating that heavy sense of too much to do - that stops you doing anything!
And you may find it helps you sift out and act on your best ideas.
How to brainstorm better?
As the seasons change our thoughts turn to …
In the last few weeks various folk have asked me if I could do something on this. Very humbling as they’re all people who I would consider very creative AND succesful in getting their ideas put into practice.
So, I’m mulling over what I might do (a seminar?) and cover. Any thoughts? Please say!
It’s back! Brainstorm in a Teacup
Do you have a problem or opportunity at work that could best be helped by giving yourself some time and space to think?
If you …
- are stuck with a particular challenge and have no one in your organisation with whom to talk it through
- want to approach things in a different way, and would welcome the opportunity to meet with other like minded Leaders who will challenge the way you do things
- are holding an issue you know you need to address but can’t find the right time and mental space to think about it properly
… then this may be for you.
Every month Idea Space in collaboration with Inspire The Best will be hosting a focussed two-hour session to address whatever work issues participants want to bring and move forward.
The session is held every second Tuesday of the month, 16.00-18.00 in Central London.
Please visit http://inspireidea.eventbrite.com/ to find out more and book your place.
A peep behind the scenes! Collaborative design notes.
