Innovation, Creativity & the ICE Model

By Jonathan Halls
 

IN THIS ARTICLE:

• The ICE Model

• The three steps of creativity

• Why ICE is important

Many great people have come up with ways to understand and spur on creativity.  Many of them are great.  All have their strengths.

Because I believe wholeheartedly that creativity is more than just coming up with a bunch of ideas and it more about actually creating something tangible, I’ve developed the ICE model. 

As a broadcaster, writer, speaker and teacher, I look at concepts and ask how I can make them easier to understand and apply to real life. 

I believe the ICE model will make it easier for you apply creative strategies to your professional work, community and personal lives.

The model is a simple three step model.   I've developed this model drawing on research and my own experience working in broadcasting and corporate education.

Three Steps for Creativity

ICE stands for the three steps of creativity:

·         Imagine

·         Critique

·         Enact

Let's look at each of these three steps and what they are all about.

Imagine

The first step is to imagine. 

This initial step is about letting your imagination go wild.  About dreaming up as many ideas as you can.  It doesn’t matter if the ideas are silly, boring, interesting or exciting. 

Sometimes an idea which seems silly at first may grow on you.  Or it may spur you on to dream up another idea which is not so silly.  In fact the more ideas you can come up with, the better.

Critique  

The second step is to critique the ideas. 

It is during this step that you look at all the ideas you came up with and choose one to turn into reality.  Choosing the best idea is critical. 

This step involves critical thinking.  And it requires you to be clear about your own success criteria and business plans.

Enact

The third step is to enact your chosen idea.

It’s during this step that we make your idea a reality.  This requires discipline and hard work to set goals and objectives before combining real life skills to turn your idea a success.

Why ICE is important

My experience working in some organizations is that people focus on the first step of creativity and forget the next two. 

You can’t be creative unless you actually create something.  If you only have ideas, that means you’re imaginative, not creative.  Don’t confuse imagination with creativity.

It’s really important not to forget that imaginative thinking must combine with critical thinking and then express itself as action.  Only then will you create a success.

Links

• Some comments on the philosophy behind the ICE model.
• Imagine home page
• Critique home page
• Enact home page