Be Brilliant: Think
Recently I was introduced to a TED Talk "How Boredom Can Lead to Your Most Brilliant Ideas" and it got me thinking (pun intended).
When am I intentionally thinking? When do I do my best thinking?
Here is my problem. I am an activator. I struggle to sit silent and allow thoughts and ideas to percolate. I will journal, run, or actively attempt to generate ideas through one of several brainstorming techniques I teach to other leaders. Maybe this is you?
However, as a leader, our role is to "think." If you are not spending time thinking you are not adding value to your organization—to paraphrase an idea from Warran Buffett. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may take over many jobs, but we are a few years from AI creating original ideas. Your team, employees, and managers expect you to generate ideas that can be implemented and add value to the organization.
Here’s where the b3 Remarkable problem-solving model comes into play:
Identify the problem.
Determine the root cause.
Generate possible solutions.
Select and implement the solution.
Evaluate the outcome.
Four of the five steps require the individual, leader, or team (ideally) to think. Not do. At least not initially.
A local restaurant in Kansas City has had a PR nightmare with an employee allegedly adding bodily fluids to the food before it going out to the guests. This in and of itself is a problem. It is not where any restaurant wants to focus its attention. However, I have to wonder what the underlying cause of the problem is. Was it a hiring problem? If so, why? Was it a supervision problem? Absolutely, but what was the reason for the lack of supervision? Until these issues are resolved, by taking time to think, not act, solving the problem is ineffective.
As simplistic as it is to think, until we make it a priority, and set aside time and place to allow the brain to wander, brilliant ideas will be few and far between.
