Ideas: The Start of Something Great

Community and organizational actions and completed projects are great to observe, utilize, and document with articles and pictures. We can report that a boat ramp has been constructed, a vacant building filled, or a scenic view protected. What often is lost in the fanfare, however, is where and how the ideas for such projects originated and the people that played a role. Such roles could have included those that developed the idea itself, the leader or facilitator leading the discussion and asking the right questions, or those that took that idea and molded it into a format to fit the particular community or organizational need. In short, ideas as well as the process to develop them are important. Ideas are the first step of future actions.

There are a number of areas to think about when it comes to ideas and their progress. Some of these include:

• Seeking ideas
  There should not only be a willingness to seek new ideas, but a process to seek them from various sources as applicable. When ideas continually come from the same pool of contributors, they may lack a perspective that could refine, renew, enhance, or constructively critique. The means by which new ideas can be sought are numerous, some of which include, community forums, surveys, new and diverse board/committee members, public meetings/hearings, focus groups and task forces.
• Willingness to share ideas
  A vast offering of opportunities will not produce input unless people are willing to participate and share. Personal commitment is required. This can range from board member attendance/contribution to citizen involvement at public meetings. Without ideas, especially local community ideas, projects do not happen, or if they do, they may follow the status quo.
• Respecting and valuing ideas and those that give them
  In order for board members, officials, citizens and stakeholders to be willing and comfortable with sharing ideas, there should be a documented as well as perceived atmosphere of a willingness to hear and value ideas. Not all ideas are necessarily good ones, but the ability to provide them opens discussion, leads to other ideas, and reinforces a process for more ideas.
• Documenting and nurturing ideas
  Unfortunately, there are many instances where ideas are either forgotten or not pursued and opportunities are lost. Ideas that are to be further explored should not only be documented, but assigned to a person and/or entity that will follow-up. This can include further researching the issue, establishing specific tasks and timetables and networking /communicating with others.

Remember to seek, share, value and document ideas in order to get their full potential and make a difference for your group or community.