Developing an idea can be a challenging process, but there are several techniques and strategies that can help. Here are some tips from various sources:
- Ask questions: Idea people are curious people. They ask a lot of questions of others and especially of themselves. Their sentences often begin with “W” words—who, what, where, when, why—and also “how” [1].
- Brainstorm: Write down as many ideas as possible, even if they seem silly or impractical. The more ideas you come up with, the more likely you are to get some that are useful. Very few significant ideas are ready to be implemented at first blush. They invariably need to be modified, even during implementation[1].
- Get feedback: Preferably from diverse points of view and people who can look at the idea objectively and critically. Refining and developing ideas is a big part of idea management, and perhaps the most critical step on the way towards building ideas that create value[3].
- Take it step by step: Don’t try to create a perfect, completely flawless idea with a detailed plan right away. Instead, get to the real world as quickly as possible to validate assumptions that help to truly refine the idea[3].
- Create a project: Start by creating a project and thinking about what you want to achieve[4].
- Think, ponder, brainstorm: Spend time thinking about your idea and brainstorming ways to develop it[4].
- Consider transmedia: Think about how your idea could be adapted to different media, such as film, TV, or video games[4].
- Explore ideas: Implement different ways of exploring ideas and composing solutions that best solve the problem in the most effective manner[5].
Remember that developing an idea is a process, and it may take time and effort to refine your concept into something that is truly innovative and valuable.
Citations:
[1] https://www.elmhurst.edu/blog/how-to-generate-ideas/
[2] https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/develop-an-idea
[3] https://www.viima.com/blog/developing-ideas
[4] https://teralynnchilds.com/develop-an-idea/
[5] https://digitalpromise.org/initiative/360-story-lab/360-production-guide/investigate/augmented-reality/idea-development/stages-of-idea-development/
[6] https://dictionary.reverso.net/english-synonyms/develop+an+idea