What are Ideation Best Practices?

While many approaches to ideation exist, there are several commonalities that exist for effectively developing or creating new ideas. Below is a list of some of these best practices.

• Use Unique Thought Patterns - Albert Einstein said, "Common sense is a collection of prejudices established before the age of 18 years." Do not rely on your basic assumptions about an idea or about individuals. Attempt to address any problem by breaking away from your previously-engrained, logic patterns.
• Challenge All Existing Assumptions Any situation or idea comes with certain assumptions. Challenging the basic assumptions associated with an idea helps to expand upon the idea or concept in a novel fashion.
• Think of ways to Reword the Idea or Concept This allows you to look at things from different vantages
• Make Interconnections This allows one to conceptualize relationships between generally unrelated ideas
• Employ Unique Perspectives We tend to look at things from a perspective built on our personal experience and internal paradigms. Try to approach problems from the perspective of someone much different from myself.
• Use Facilitating Devices You can facilitate your ideation by identifying enablers. Enablers can include creative tools or an environment that allows for free thought.

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