I was just thinking …

If you don’t like taking time to think, don’t plan on being an innovator.

Great ideas pop up “out of the blue” for very few truly innovative leaders. For most, innovation is hatched from thought, research, studying, learning, experimenting, discussing, or other times better designed for fostering thought … but making time to think of possibilities, and then to think them through, is an essential incubator for hatching innovative thought.

One way of prompting innovation when you do take time to think is to keep notes of ideas or thoughts that you can give deeper consideration to during your “think time.” Whether you make notes in a notebook, journal, or electronic device, having a few notes to prompt your thinking time with gives you a starting point. When you have a promising idea that pops up when you know you don’t have time to give it adequate thought, make a note of the idea and revisit it with greater attention during your “think time.”

When you make time to think, have some tools to work out your thoughts. Whether its as simple as paper and pencil, or a mind mapping site or software, be prepared to fully expand on and capture your ideas once you unleash your thinking.

Finally, leaders who actually achieve something innovative are those who act on their innovative thoughts as soon as possible. The longer the window between acting and doing, the greater the likelihood you will not act on your thoughts.

Scotty