Question:

How can we tap into the potential of Twitter to create a new creative problem solving technique?

Answer:

The challenge went out to invite the followers of @creativityhall to find “intermediate impossible” solutions (novel approaches that would definitely solve the problem, but impossible to implement) to the problem:

“How do I crate a stampede of demand for the Ideas Centre in Colchester?”

The creative ideas included:

* Free iPad for every new member

* Free cakes

* Decorate life size model elephants and plant them all over the town, leading to the Centre

* Turn it into a game – leave clues on major landmarks for people to solve – long term fad

* Get Spiderman to write invitations in web across all access roads

* Get all TV aerials to point to the Centre

* Create a wave of fascination in creative techniques

* Lead people to the event in chariots pulled by elephants

* Use lasers to project a huge “ideas light-bulb” into the sky

* Get all local students to participate within University curriculum
Lots to work with – but the “elephant” metaphor really grabbed the imagination – not at all clear where it might lead, but evocative stuff!

Elephants: un-missable, attention-grabbing, everyone loves them – even business people (!), striking right to the heart. What has equivalent attributes? Maybe a children’s charity? Or …. maybe it is less of a metaphor and more of reality! After all, Colchester has a zoo – and maybe The Ideas Centre could form charitable link, sponsoring the elephant house. The more you use The Ideas Centre, the more we give to the elephants at the zoo. Sponsor the elephant house – with an Ideas Centre plaque on display.

And a great “figure of speech”, resonating well with the link between The Ideas Centre and creative thinking – “elephants never forget” (they appear to be great at remembering patterns of behaviour), “the elephant in the room”.
We could find a series of corporate giveaways that link with elephants – memorable, quirky, nice to receive.

Here’s the point – this is a whole new thought process, triggered entirely by a twitter exchange that took minimal investment of time, and merely an open mind and a degree of patience to see what turns up from the sub-conscious thought processes. Conventional thought processes (using the conscious, left-hand thinking) would dismiss the idea as ridiculous.

But the idea has legs ….. large ears and a trunk!

A Creativity Club within a business will follow a standard approach:

Company-wide presentation on Creativity – soliciting volunteers for Club membership

Training a core of facilitators in creative problem solving and associated techniques

Club meetings – max 1 hour with max 6 members at any one time

Creative ideas and culture change will surely follow

Setting Up A Club

Recommended Reading

Resources

Creative Facilitation

High energy, engaging, motivational, inspirational – focusing on getting the best out of people, releasing potential and culture transformation. If you get the “people thing” right, then quality products and service will follow, with profits/value to match:

Introducing Creativity
Creative Problem Solving
Vision Led Change
Engaging People

The change process inevitably drains the energy levels of the most passionate individuals, so the Ideas Centre provides a resource to re-charge the batteries, to provide new ideas and to provide a source for innovation and transformation. This is not about continuous improvement – but more about discontinuous change, introducing step-function change into a business by challenging conventional thinking.

Participants should leave each session thinking – “Wow!”

Meetings are held on a monthly basis in a range of locations, and personally hosted by Dr David J Hall. Attendees are urged to be selfish – ensuring that sessions deliver benefit for their own organisations – whether public or private sector.

Joining A Centre
Forthcoming Events