See a vacuum that doesn’t look or act like a conventional vacuum. By understanding how consumers use a vaccum, and then solving its ineffective features, Dyson created something entirely new. They did not start with what existed, they started with zero and built it without preconditions.

Notice the Dyson Air Multiplier, a new type of fan. For years, fans have had blades. Why? Dyson’s reinvention of a bladeless fan that is more effective, smoother and safer started with a “consider everything” approach to a problem or inefficiency.

So how do you “Dyson” in your workplace? How do you consider issues in new and non-traditional ways to create a better product, process or service solutions?

To “Dyson-ize” your approach in the workplace, consider the following:
1. Select a problem, challenge or ineffective/inefficient service, process or product.
2. Create what I call a “creativiteam” – a team assembled from different areas of the business – to bring their diverse perspectives and non-preconceived notions about the challenge.
3. Allow the team complete freedom to brainstorm new approaches to the challenge. Remind them to consider everything.
4. Allow the team to meet with the frequency it requires.
5. Require the team to propose 2-3 ideas to address the challenge or problem, and rank their solutions from most effective to least effective. Present the ideas to management team.

The benefits:
1. All employees are regularly brought into creative problem-solving and they become owners in the solutions of the business.
2. Cross-functional teams encourage non-traditional solutions and better organization interaction.
3. The organization is constantly supplied with opportunities to reinvent and redevelop to stay ahead of the competition.

Capitalize on the creative genius in your people. Many times they do not “Dyson” because they are not asked to. The more you ask your employees to invent, reinvent and reconsider, the more they do it and the better at it they become. You paid for their creative input, be sure you ask for it.

Please pass this on to someone who can benefit from it, and contact me to help you fire up! your employees to be clever like Dyson.