With teams dispersed and everyone working from home, there is a limit to the amount of exposure to other people and their people’s ideas you can have. While you could scroll through social media platforms and the Internet for inspiration, it is not the same as sharing ideas with real people in your team. 

media update’s Talisa Jansen van Rensburg takes a look at the ways that people can bounce ideas off one another whilst working remotely.

Here are four ways to share ideas with others, remotely:

1. Communicate constantly

One of the best ways to bounce ideas off your colleagues is by hopping onto a Zoom call and speaking to them face-to-face (virtually). During the video call, everyone can brainstorm together, allowing the creative juices to start flowing. 

Seeing people on video also allows for a change in scenery. For example, you could see a painting on a person’s wall that sparks a great idea for new content. It is important to encourage frequent video chats with one another because it will encourage a constant flow of communication. 

Video calls also ensure that the introverts in your team focus on staying social without having to leave the house, whereas the extroverts are also being stimulated and able to talk out their ideas with teammates. 

If you’re strapped for time and can’t do a video call, send them a quick WhatsApp message or open up Snapchat and send some creative snaps that relate to your idea. Be sure to always ask for feedback or someone else’s input before following through with your idea.

2. Implement creative zones

Encourage everyone in your team to set up a creative zone for themselves while working from home; this will allow for constant ideas to develop. 

But wait, what is a creative zone exactly? 

A creative zone is a spot you set up at your office or home where you can allow for creativity to soar. Put together elements that will inspire you to be creative — an untidy and boring space will not encourage you to flex those creative muscles.

For example, you could put a comfy mat on the floor and place sticky notes everywhere around you. You can then lay down or sit up straight on your mat with a pen and the moment you get an idea you can add that onto a sticky note. 

Most companies do make space for these types of creative zones, but working from home means that you have the freedom to personalise your creative space to suit your exact needs. If you find cool ideas for a creative zone on Pinterest or other social media platforms, be sure to share those with the rest of the team. 

3. Keep things personalised

It is easy to become impersonal when you only communicate with your colleagues online. It takes away from ‘normal’, face-to-face communication between humans where you can interpret the tone and body language displayed by someone. This is why it’s essential to give meetings and brainstorm sessions with colleagues that personal touch.

Make things personal by chatting about life outside of work; ask about their children, pets or interests. The moment a person starts talking about the things they are passionate about, their ideas will become so much better. 

Being personal and vulnerable, to an extent, allows for increased trust — and people who trust one another will be more open to sharing ideas.

4. Encourage the use of creative tools

Working from home means that a lot of us fall into a new routine. Most of us have the routine of getting up, showering, eating, working, watching movies or series and then going back to bed. Although it is important to focus on taking breaks in between work, it is just as important to continue developing your skills — even when you’re out of the office.

Making use of creative tools will allow for a continuous flow in thinking up new and great ideas.

Some great creativity tools include: 
  1. Coffitivity — This app recreates the sound of a coffee shop. Previous studies have shown that the background sound of a coffee shop allows people to become more creative and productive.  
  2. Brainsparker — This app makes use of over 200 ‘thought-provoking words and phrases’. Simply shake your phone and the app will give you a card with a phrase or word on it, which will allow you to start stretching your creative muscles. 
  3. Curator — This app allows you to “organise your thoughts visually, refine your visual storytelling, collect inspiration, create mood boards and export them to PDF.”.It’s with you every step of the way when it comes to the creative process.
What are some other useful ways you found to bounce off ideas with others while being out of a shared office space? Let us know in the comments section below.

We see you’ve enjoyed our content right until the end. To get more insightful stories, sign up for our newsletter

While your creative juices are flowing, have you considered hosting a virtual event? Check out our article to find out How to nail your next virtual event.
*Image courtesy of Vecteezy