Innovation is all about getting new ideas for simple solutions to solve relevant customer problems or needs. When there is a sudden need for innovation the first thing people do is organize a brainstorming session. But usually this approach doesn’t lead to anything innovative. That’s why brainstorming has such negative connotations in a lot of companies. Because, when you brainstorm unprepared with the same group of colleagues, hardly anything new will appear. And you’d think not getting any new ideas would be the problem. But you’d be wrong. The problem is getting rid of the old ideas first.

I love this quote by the American businessman Dee Hock:

“The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get old ones out. Every mind is a building filled with archaic furniture. Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it.”

Once you’ve got the old ideas out of your mind, new ones come automatically! That’s why it is essential that you first change your thought patterns to get rid of the old ideas before you can create new ones. Key to breaking old thought patterns is acknowledging that they are outdated and keep you from the progress you really desire. You won’t convince yourself of this by staying behind your desk. You have to go out there to challenge your old insights. There are many ways to replace old ideas with new insights. In my new book The Innovation Expedition I mention four ways:

1. Explore trends

By exploring trends yourself, you will realize the world is changing rapidly. Trends offer inspiration for new insights. So study new concepts or business models based on new trends. I love to refer you to 18 top sites for trend spotting (my Linkedin post last week).

2. Explore technology

Technological developments are a wonderful source of inspiration. You will find technological resources in your own country as well, such as universities of technology, research centers linked to the non-profit government agencies or large tech companies such as Google, Philips, Siemens or Vodafone. And, get into contact with market leaders such as Samsung, 3M, IBM or Cap Gemini to explore their new technology. Soon, you’ll find out that the way you have been doing things is fast becoming obsolete.

3. Explore Opportunities

Generate potential innovation opportunities and seek inspiring sources for those opportunities. Go out and meet with inspiring people. One thing will lead to another. Your exploration journey will automatically take you off the familiar highways your mind usually follows.

4. Explore Customer Frictions

Meeting customers in person and discovering their frictions are the most effective sources of inspiration when it comes to getting rid of old ideas. A customer friction is a relevant need, impulse or wish from a specific target group, which is currently is left unsatisfied. Often, these are issues people struggle with daily in their personal and professional lives. You just have to get out there; meet and talk with them, always asking the most important question: why?! Remember: “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” (Confucius).

You need fresh, new insights to get fresh, new ideas.

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Gijs van Wulfen is the founder of the FORTH innovation methodology. He just published a new bestseller: "The Innovation Expedition, A Visual Toolkit to Start Innovation". Look inside & order at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

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Photo Credits: Flickr / Kovalchek