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You work in a specific job role in an organisation, let’s say ‘Sustainability Manager’ for example. In other organisations around the country and the world, people are doing exactly the same job role (usually). They’re facing the same problems, doing the same things, and looking for the same support that you are.
"Ideas Won't Keep. Something Must Be Done About Them."– Alfred North Whitehead
Find your online network
There’s always an online network to support you, such as a message board, a Facebook group, or an email news ring. Using these services is going to put you into contact with other people from other organisations that do the same or similar jobs. You can benchmark targets, compare techniques, and share best practices.
How to use these digital spaces to generate ideas
You can generate ideas from these peer networks just by simply talking to your peers about the problems that they are facing. You probably have some sort of relationship already, but if you haven’t, this is a great way to build rapport.
You can get in touch with your peers and talk about your organisation, the role and the problems that you also face. They will open up about similar problems. Be sure to listen carefully to what they’re saying because as they specify their problems and explore the problems, you are going to start generating ideas for solutions.
The more rapport, the better
The more peers you talk to, the better. These professionals are educating you on the problems that they’re facing, and that you’re probably facing as well. They’re giving you their insights, a new perspective, which can then inform your idea-generating process.
Connect with your peers
Talk to them, link up with them, have at chat at events, email them, call them, grab a coffee, and build up a rapport. You’re mining them for a problem, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build rapport and professional friendship. It’s going to make you better at your job, and better at starting a sustainability business. You’re sharing the best practices, and these people are going to possibly become a sales target once you launch.
Here's how to do it..
It's so simple. Just get together! Get chatting. Try any of these to kick off the convo
- So what are you struggling with at the moment?
- What costs you the most money/ time/ hassle?
- What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
- What is always on your to do list?
and then go deeper with
- Tell me more...
- Why does that happen?
- Who is involved?
- Where does it happen?
- How would you fix it?
If you have this type of convo with lots of people you start to join dots and relise the issues that everyone is facing can be the same and you are in a perfect position to develop ideas to fix them!
Are you ready to take your idea to the next stage? Let's go!
Have you joined up to our "6 Week Welcome Email Series" yet? This takes you incrementally through setting a vision and generating ideas. Click the button below.
