New Inputs = New Outputs
What you put in determines what you get out. New ideas typically don’t come by looking at situations in the same light, you often must re-imagine the problem or at least see it from a different perspective.
If you’re always looking for new ways to solve problems then you’re constantly on the lookout for new perspective. How do you find them?
- Talk to new people. If you’re always meeting new people from diverse backgrounds and asking enough questions to understand their perspective then you’re naturally going to be filled with new ideas.
- Seek out different backgrounds. If you’re in sales, talk to the guys in procurement, logistics, marketing, accounting & finance. Talk to folks running nonprofits and governmental organizations. Share your situation with them, openly tell them you’re looking for new perspectives and believe that their chosen discipline will lend them such a perspective.
- Read everything. Well, that’s time consuming. Let’s try, sample everything. Look at the non-fiction section and sample a few titles, find the blogs on these subjects that you know very little about. You don’t need to become an expert, but having the first clue makes substantial discussions with your peers in these disciplines easier (less intimidating) and more productive.
- Listen to podcasts on new subjects. You’ll invest less time than reading and get to hear the ideas. If you’re an auditory learner, this is a huge advantage.
- Get a devils advocate. As you’re making all of these new friends, find someone who will stand up to you and push back. Ask them to play devils advocate the push your argument.
- Ask questions. By far the most important skill you need to gain new inputs is asking questions. Being afraid or intimidated to show your ignorance will get you the same results. If you’re after new results you must step outside your comfort zone and ask. Listen, and ask again. Ask clarifying questions around what you don’t know.
- Stand on your desk. By changing something as simple as the physical context you’re in your mind picks up different queues and begins to engage situations along different neural pathways. You might stand on your desk, work with the light off, sit in a conference room or coffee shop, anything to change the physical context you’re in.