For creativity to flourish it’s important to have time and space. But where do you have your best ideas? I asked the comms community to share their top tips.
collated by Darren Caveney
A Twitter Poll on @comms2point0 sparked a flood of responses to where comms people do their best creative thinking.
It was clear that the vast majority had their best ideas away from the office.
Here’s what they said…
Rob Yeldham – The British Museum.
Stevie Pattisond – I’m fond of the British Museum and the British Library as inspiring places. Quiet trains are good too.
Ena Lloyd - Walking around the park.
Mark Picken - When I’m out for a run.
Katie Owens - Cliche, but ideas often come to me when I least expect them... I can't force myself to be creative, but need that eureka moment last thing at night or first thing in the shower (I guess when at my most relaxed)
Sally-Anne Watts - Walking the dogs.
Jane Appleton - In my sleep. It’s also my problem-solving place.
Kate Pritchard - When I’m driving. Then I spend time trying to remember them when I get to my destination!
Menna Rowlands - 3am in the morning unfortunately :-(
Daniel Fritz - Made me think for a moment. I guess when i listen to podcasts completely unrelated to my job is when I get the freshest ideas.
James Farrier - It’s quite instructive how nobody has creative ideas at their desks. I’m a huge advocate of the importance of getting out of the office to somewhere new in order to get the creative juices flowing.
Kate Vogelsang - Wherever my notebook is and I can have time to think. Usually on a train north to south!
Lou Gibson - Outside of work - driving home, making dinner, 2am, often when listening to music. My creativity tends to spark when I don't push it to.
Ruth Dowson – Walking.
Sarah Willis - In the shower!
Lorraine Homer – Whilst walking the dogs.
Paul Compton - We have a weekly Comms and Coffee session in a local cafe. All our best ideas come from there.
Alan Oram - 1. Walking 2. Researching similar challenges 3. Focused work in a quiet space - at home or away from the office. Weekends or evenings with a pen and a pad 4. At the pub talking nonsense - something always comes from those moments. Normally a hangover but ideas too.
James Morton - We pay @AlanHasIdeas to do it.
Clare P - A walk in the woods. And train journeys. My MSc dissertation had a case study on where comms people think. Clue: not their desks!
Ella Minty - Outside - walking, on the street or in a park.
Caroline Roodhouse - In the shower. Always a mad dash afterwards to make notes on my phone!
Rach - Another vote for in the shower!
So it’s official – the office is NOT the place to generate our best ideas. We need to go outside, head to a pub or take lots of showers to create our best work.
Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Darren Caveney is creator of comms2point0 and owner of communications consultancy creative communicators ltd
image via PhotoAteller
