Ideation CPR – How to stop thinking and start doing

by. Michael Hudson

Ideas are seductive. They move us beyond what we know, to consider what might be. They allow us to tap our inner genius as we explore possibilities without limits.

Ideas can frustrate. They remind us how much we don’t know. They force us to admit there are things we simply cannot (or will not) do. They lead us to invest time, energy and money going down paths that sometimes end up going nowhere.

Ideas have power. They reveal solutions to problems—those we’ve been wrestling with, those we don’t even know we have and those that have not yet emerged.

Ideation is the process of coming up with ideas, and it is an important part of the day-to-day conversations of every business leader. Ideation stimulates discussion and debate and leads to better decisions. It creates visions of the future. It engages people in solving problems.

I like to say ideation is the lifeblood of the modern organization. The flexibility that drives business results rests firmly on a foundation of effective ideation, much the way our cardio-pulmonary system keeps us alive. That’s why every business leader needs to learn Ideation CPR. Here’s how it works.

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