There are already so many problems in the world.

Why create another problem?

Why not put our energies in idea generation and  creative solutions you would ask me?

And my answer would be:

An answer can be only as good as your question!

Whether you are dealing with business problems or want to make your decision making better, creative problem solving process suggests, it's better to put your idea generation muscles to work in the 'problem creation' stage itself.

If you describe your problem imaginatively, it can trigger solutions, quick and fast. Not only so, your solutions will be relevant and fresh.

We think idea right brain thinking is involved only in solution finding stage, but the truth is use of imagination and right brain thinking in problem definition will get better results for you.

The difference between a mediocre thinker and a genius one is this: The geniuses create new problems. They put their creative energy and focus on brainstorming the problem from different angles. They approach the problem at hand from multiple dimensions. 

This is what makes them produce brilliant ideas, creative ideas which produces big AHA moments.

Let's see how we can enhance our idea generation process to enhance our ideas:

EVERY PROBLEM IS A FRESH PROBLEM:

When a situation is presented to us, we spontaneously relate it to some other problem that we solved earlier. We label it: I know this problem; it’s like what we had in the manufacturing department last month.

We can borrow the experience later on.
But resist this temptation at the problem defining stage.

Old questions will only lead to old answers. There could be many new angles in the situation facing us and we will lose opportunities to create fresh solutions.

So, resist judgement, use the right brain, think about the problem like a child. 

ASK DIFFERENTLY:

Even if you ask for a 'different kind of chair,' what you will get is a chair!

But if you ask for 'something to sit on comfortably,' you will get something new.

It may not be a chair. It may be a bean bag!

If you need brilliant ideas, shift the problem a little bit here, a little bit thee. Be playful.You might get surprised with the brilliant ideas that will pop up in the process.

ASSUME DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEWS:

Avoid pin pointing a problem without looking to it from different perspectives. problems have many different facets.

Take a situation where salesmen are not filling reporting forms.

The management could see it as a discipline problem, while from
the financial controller's point of view; the problem might be insufficient documentation.

On the other hand, for the salesman, it is simply a question of
wasting productive time.

If we approach it as an indiscipline problem, solutions will comprise
reprimanding the sales staff, punishing them and arresting their incentives.

The same problem defined as in-effective reporting formats will be solved differently.

A hundred brilliant ideas on indiscipline won't help. A few solutions to improve
the reporting system might work wonders.

SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM:

Keep the time dimension in the problem statement. Are you looking for a short term, midterm or a long term solution?

What will happen tomorrow, day after, a few years hence? Will the problem be different?

DEFINE BOUNDARIES:

Include the expectations of time and budget in the desired solution.
That will make the solutions feasible and relevant.

USE THE RIGHT BRAIN:

Yes, use the right brain to give the problem its final shape. Be imaginative.
Make a story, a news item or pictorially represent the problem.

In a nutshell make problem so attractive that people want to solve it.

Following these simple steps will make idea generation process
much more exciting, relevant and result oriented!

The ability to see problems  differentrly and imaginatively will increase your idea generation skills and output of brilliant ideas.