It's the curse of the workplace innovation session. People from the same company/group always want to stick together, but when they do, they risk missing out on the outside stimuli of coming up with ideas with new people.
But, how to communicate to the people you work with everyday that it's better to split up and come up with ideas in different groups? It's not easy.
So, for those of you facing this sort of situation in the future, I've written a script for you. ;-)
A letter to a co-worker before a creativity session...
Dear co-worker,
It's very hard to say this, but I think we need to take a break from each other.
It's not you, it's me. Actually, to be totally, brutally-honest, it's how we act when we're together.
No, no! There's nothing wrong with you. You're brilliant, funny, easy to get along with, and I love to work with you.
It's just that today, I can't see this working out between us.
You see, even though we're great together, our relationship just isn't healthy for coming up with fantastically-creative ideas.
No, no! I'm not saying you have bad ideas!
I'm just feel too comfortable when I'm with you. I know your limits, and you know exactly how far I will go. And we have such a good sense of reality and what works (and what doesn't).
But I'm feeling constrained by our relationship. I've been coming up with the same dull ideas for so long... and I'm not quite ready to settle down yet.
I've heard that innovating with new people can take me to places I've never been, and open up ideas I never would have thought of on my own. I need to live on the wild side for a while, and see what I've been missing. I need to take chances, and be impulsive, and not worry about what comes out of my mouth.
I can't do that around you. I want you to still respect me in the morning.
(Could you imagine the uncomfortable meetings at the coffee pot when we have to face up to the uneasy realization that I'm not the person you thought I was? Or how embarrassed I'd be because you know my wildest ideas? What if you think I've totally lost it?!!!! How could you ever trust me again?)
It's just for today. I promise you that once I've gotten a chance to sow my wild oats, I'll be happy to come back to you - black dress socks, 9-5 workdays, Excel spreadsheets and all.
Love,
Your normally restrained co-worker.
What do you think? Do you have problems voicing "crazy ideas" around the people you work with in a serious setting everyday?
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