Thinking It Done
Through the Wall: Idea to Implementation
Our culture, here in the U.S., is rife with tales of the great idea. We are fascinated by the inventor, whether it is a historical Edison, Bell, or Einstein, or a contemporary Gates. We view idea generators as icons of success.
What our culture doesn't celebrate is implementation, even though it often takes more time, sweat, and "smarts" to make something happen than to dream it up. In fact, we view doers, somehow, as lesser beings than so-called "visionaries."
I do believe that ideas and theories are important. But maybe it is time to celebrate the real work of change, instead of this myth of the great idea. Perhaps, being more of an implementer myself, I am biased. Because I believe the test of a great idea is this: Can it be translated into something useable? Is it applicable and beneficial?
When I worked for Saatchi & Saatchi, we had a saying: "Strategy is everything, implementation is everything else." It illustrated the recognition that big ideas are important, but implementation is just as (and sometimes more) critical.
What blocks many of us from taking an idea to fruition is the shift in thinking and energy that is needed to move from ethereal to corporeal. In fact, that shift can feel like trying to walk through a wall -- a bit like Patrick Swayze's first attempts to rearrange his molecules to slide his ghost-body through the closed door in the movie, Ghost.
The thinking shift is from your Connective intelligence -- the intelligence of creativity that allows you to make connections between seemingly unconnected things -- to Ratilinear intelligence, which is the rational, linear, logical thinking needed to plan and implement. I'm not saying that these two intelligences cannot work in tandem, because they can, but it takes a thinking process that encourages both, and the practice and skills to move through that wall.
This shift is why it is so difficult in a typical staff meeting to move from agenda items to brainstorming or vice versa. The meetings aren't set up to encourage thinking shifts.
There are tools that help your brain to team the intelligence of Ratilinear with that of Connective. Here are two:
Post
It Planning
Post It Planning (using 3M's Post-It® Notes) is one of my favorite
tools. In Post It Planning, you brainstorm ideas and implementation
questions/steps, writing each one on a Post-It® Note, and placing it
on a wall or on large pieces of paper. Next organize the notes into
general categories, and break each idea down into implementation
ideas, steps, and questions. The beauty of this process is that you
can get ideas and implementation steps on the paper at the same
time, and since the Post-It® Notes can always be moved around for
categorization later, you aren't forced too early into linear
thinking that blocks the creative flow. This also works well for
people who are dominantly right-brained, and who become overwhelmed
when it is time to think in a linear fashion.
Map
It
Map It lets you get your ideas onto paper, again without forcing you
too early into linear thinking. To Map It, place your central idea
in the middle of the paper, using a picture (even if you can't draw,
like me). Draw lines radiating from the center and put your main
ideas or categories, on those lines. Then place sub-ideas or related
ideas on shorter lines attached to those main lines. It helps to
encourage your creativity if you use colors and pictures, as well as
words, to record and express your ideas. Michael Gelb and Tony Buzan
have both written books about mind mapping, if you're interested in
learning their techniques. I've adapted their ideas to my own
thinking style. In fact, I used a series of maps to generate and
think through ideas for my book, Brain Power.
Shannon Bradford
is a writer and coach, helping people learn how to master their
brains to succeed in their careers and businesses. She is the author
of Brain Power (Wiley, 2002).
© 2002 Shannon Bradford
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