One of the more enjoyable aspects of leading Artbeat of America is overseeing brainstorming sessions with our clients. We ask participants to defer judgment on creative ideas until we hear all points of view. Invariably, however, there are idea killers or naysayers who violate the rule.

The good news is that your organization can learn this productive-thinking exercise with ease. It starts with the positive spirit God has given you, then tapping into the stream of creativity.

World-class hat designer Time McClendon—a Christian who uses his business as a platform to testify of his relationship with Christ—gets more out of his God-given skills than most, in part because he practices deferring judgment. Drawing from his background as an art instructor and from his heritage—his mother’s 50 years in the millinery industry—McClendon uses his imagination to create innovative hats.

Deferring judgment in any creative process is vital. Consider the latest idea to come from press coverage of Prince William’s bride-to-be Kate Middleton. She was seen wearing a “fascinator”—part hat, part headband.

The idea for the fascinator came from designers listening to consumers who asked for a product that held their hair in place in windy conditions, yet had the finer features of a hat. The fascinator was born out of this expressed need.

In that spirit of innovation, start your next idea session with a question: “Wouldn’t it be great if?” Perhaps, wouldn’t it be great if we had more time to be productive and creative? Or, wouldn’t it great if my team could develop a breakthrough product or service? And, wouldn’t it be great if my company could be quicker to market with new ideas?

Note some of the lessons we have learned in past brainstorming sessions:

• Not all ideas can work in the immediate.
• We believe in a verification step that validates ideas with consumers.
• Allow a group of consumers or advisors to make your ideas bullet proof.
• Balance innovation with being pragmatic. You can design a “fascinator,” but don’t order a warehouse full of inventory or overstock your shelves.
• Use an incubation process that honors good ideas, but allows them to bake until ready.

Above all else, continue to tap into the God-given creativity of your team and your consumers. Use it as currency to operate more abundantly in your store or business.

Rick Tocquigny

CEO, Artbeat of America

Publisher, Gracefully Yours greeting cards

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