Innovation plays an important role in the growth of a small business. While innovative ideas come naturally to some, most small business owners have a tough time coming up with innovative changes that will have a positive impact to their business. To ensure your business survives the recession, you have to be willing to be innovative, embrace change, and bring new products or services to your revenue streams. With that in mind, here are a few ideas that can help you be innovative. Top 10 Tips on How to Get Innovative Ideas for Your

Top 10 Tips on How to Get Innovative Ideas for Your Business   

1.   Focus
 
Have you ever noticed that before you bought your current car, you didnt see many of the same make, model and colour car driving around the roads before you bought the car. However after buying your car, in the weeks that followed did you notice how many of the same make, model and colour car were actually on the road. My question for you, were those same cars there before you purchased your own car or did they just all of a sudden appear in the weeks that followed. The thing is, our mind only looks for things we want to see, or in other words, things we are looking for. Therefore you have to start by programming your mind to start looking for new business ideas and opportunities.
 
2.   Get Out
 
Its very difficult to get creative ideas from within your own office, where youve been day in and day out. So change your environment. Go to new places. Get away from the office to somewhere youve never been before. You'll be forced to see new things as you acclimatise yourself to the new environment.
 
3.   Lateral Thinking
 
Dr Edward de Bono - the originator of Lateral Thinking and author of over 60 books including 6 Thinking Hats - is the guru when it comes to thinking outside the box. His books will give you numerous techniques as to how to be innovative and approach things from a different perspective. Buy one!
 
4.   Read Business Books
 
There is a wealth of inspiration and creative ideas to be got from reading business books, listening to business programmes on the radio or reading the biographies of successful people to see how they made it. Brody Sweeney, founder of OBriens Irish Sandwich Bars, explains in his book Small to Tall, where he used the basis for changing how he sold sandwiches, which initially were only sold on a made to order basis. On the back of reading Fergal Quinns story Crowning the Customer, he put in a pre-packaged sandwich counter with exactly the same results that Fergal Quinn got. It took nothing away from the core business, but opened up an additional, profitable revenue flow.
 
5.   Question Everyting
 
Question why things are done a particular way. Its only by questioning do you begin to find alternatives to how things can be done better or done differently.
 
6.   Ask your customers
 
A lot of us believe we are providing our products or services the correct way. The way we think or customers want them. However many of us never ask the people we are trying to sell to. You don't need to do extensive market research. All you have to do is ask your customers what would you do differently. Even better, ask past customer, people that for some reason stopped buying from you. You'll be amazed at what youll find out along with the opportunities it will present. And in my experience, it wont cost you a lot to incorporate the new ideas. One caveat however,  if youre asking people for ideas, dont try selling to them at the same time.
 
7.   Brainstorm
 
We all have our own ways of doing things and we all think our ways are the best way, for obvious reasons. However would you agree that you'll get more ideas and insights from the people around you  your staff, other business owners, friends, colleagues? Develop a focus group to brainstorm and share ideas.
 
8.   Add a Zero
 
When youre trying to reach a turnover of say Eur100,000 - youll think of all the different things you can do to achieve that turnover. However add a zero to the end. Yes, so now your target is Eur1,000,000  now what are all the ideas youll come up with in order to achieve the new turnover level. When Ive done this exercise with other business owners, the results have been amazing. The thing is, the majority of the ideas youll come up with to achieve the higher turnover figure can also be used to achieve your original turnover figure. The only difference is, youve allowed yourself to have no limitations and extend your possibilities.
 
9.   Attend Events
 
In the environment of battening down the hatches and waiting to ride the storm, some of us forget that the proper way forward is to get out there and see whats going on. Mark in your diary all the events that are coming up, conferences, trade shows, training programmes, networking, attend them and get inspiration. But like what I said earlier, make sure you direct your focus. That is go to the events for the purpose of getting new ideas, looking for opportunities, questioning, and not for the sake of just attending them.

10.   Core Competencies   Ask yourself,- what are you good at, What do you really do well and what do you really enjoy doing, You cant answer this question in ten seconds. This is an exercise for you to finish on. This is an exercise you need to do, perhaps in a Starbucks coffee house drinking a mocha grande! Youll be amazed at what will come up once you start questioning and writing the answers to these questions and more importantly what opportunities it will develop into.

For Further information, contact: Paul Davis of Davis Business Consultants.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or Telephone 00353 1 288 5563.