Join International Ideas Month
Join International Ideas Month
Ahhhhh....For many of us, we've almost made it to warmth and sun. With hints of green, snowdrops, and budding branches, this is the time for new growth. It is fitting that it is also International Ideas Month, a time to raise and gather ideas for growth indoors and outdoors.
International Ideas Month was established to celebrate human ingenuity and encourage people to share and develop their thoughts. It recognizes the importance of creativity in shaping industries, cultures, and advancements throughout history. The observance promotes the power of ideas and how they can lead to meaningful change in society. https://www.twinkl.com/event/international-ideas-month-usa-2026
The Goal: To encourage people to stop dismissing their ideas and, instead, to nurture, share, and act on them to foster, innovation and positive change.
In high-performing organizations, ideas are the sun, rain, and fertilizer of growth. So let's use this month to increase ideas and establish daily/week idea routines. Here are a few ways to join in:
Idea 1: Gift everyone a way to capture ideas.
Ideas can come to mind anytime and disappear just as quickly. Provide everyone an easy way to capture ideas (e.g.; a pack of post-its, a notebook, team huddle boards, or virtual idea board files/software).
Encourage capturing all ideas, without filtering. A 'bad' idea can fertilize a better idea. If identifying ideas is difficult, start by capturing problems - wastes, challenges, hurdles, obstacles, mishaps, pain points, burdens, issues, troubles, and struggles. Ideas grow from solving problems.
Idea 2: Convene to discuss and evaluate ideas.
Provide opportunities for everyone to engage in sharing and building on ideas. Use active listening and communication skills to support fruitful discussions. No "That's a bad idea." or "That won't work."
When evaluating ideas, lock in buy-in by answering:
- What level of impact will it have on solving a problem compared to other ideas?
- Do we have the resources to try it?
We are here to provide support with problem-solving training, coaching, and assistance.
Idea 3: Try out the idea + Implement it.
If the idea makes life better, give it a try. If the idea involves others, test it to validate the idea's value and build confidence and buy-in.
Trying and implementing one good idea is better than talking about several. As Aristotle said, Success breeds success".
A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains it original dimension. –Oliver Wendell Holmes
