| Releasing Ideas
In the marketplace, as in ministry, ideas have tremendous value. In fact, we consider them possessions, assigning a phrase like "intellectual property" to describe them. They are original thoughts, and thinkers usually value their ownership in them.
Realizing the best ideas--making use of them practically in a real situation--means releasing ownership of them. When an idea becomes free of emotional attachment, pride of ownership, or a desire for reward, it becomes even more valuable. It can now be shaped and molded, added to, changed, merged, moved. It can grow into something wonderful--and useful. Also, when no one person owns the idea, it is free to become "community property"--something that the entire group can attach itself to as it fully forms.
Getting ideas to this open stage is an important part of the brainstorming process. A brainstorming group that does not have the ability to release individual ideas will seldom work effectively in a collaborative environment.
Keep your eye on the goal. The purpose of any brainstorming session in which ideas are shared is not to come up with the idea. Rather, it is to generate a broad spectrum of ideas from which the best idea may emerge. Idea generation is about exploring possibilities. The more ideas that are generated, the better the opportunity to zero in on a solution that makes sense for the ministry or event. The goal is not to get my idea into mix. The goal is the mix of ideas.
Don't fall in love with your own effort. One of the greatest hindrances to realizing the development of a great idea is emotional attachment. When we hold on to ideas as our own through the brainstorming process, we become an advocate of the idea rather than a contributor to the team. Seeing our personal input become all or part of the realized project becomes more important than finding the best possible solution. An idea that carries a person's feelings with it is a red flag to creative pros. They would rather avoid that idea altogether--however good it may be.
Incubating ideas. If an idea has some highly-charged feelings behind it that may be hindering change or cooperation, one method of releasing that idea to the group as a whole is to just sit on it for a while. Incubation is simply waiting and thinking on an idea for a period of time. Incubation is deciding not to make a decision yet. Over that time period, the idea may become more or less palatable. Incubation can also give the idea more weight as you run scenarios in your mind over time and eliminate possible negatives.
Make play out of work. It's important not to take our ideas too seriously during the brainstorming process. The end result of the process is what we are working toward, but the idea-generation itself can have a playful, game-like quality. Games are often used in brainstorming sessions because they are collaborative--the more participation, the more fun they are. As you contribute ideas, remind yourself that this part of the process is just a game--see how many ideas you can come up with and judge how good they are later on.
Practice good stewardship. In a ministry environment, releasing ideas is ultimately about good stewardship. How often do we find ourselves describing something as "God ordained" or "God inspired?" When ideas flow freely, unhindered by any personal agenda, and we are earnestly attempting to discover God's will for a specific area, we can more readily recognize His influence and direction for the project. Giving an idea up really means giving in back--to God--the Ultimate Creative Collaborator. Make ideas an offering. Acknowledge ideas has His to do with as He pleases. The pleasure in coming up with ideas is seeing God use and direct them in His will and for His glory.
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