FAQ
I have my own philosophy on strategy and creativity.
Is this course going to contradict that?
In today’s environment, companies often differentiate themselves on their unique approach to strategy and ideas. However in focusing on a unique offering, the core craft skills that underpin everything can get lost in the mix. As an industry we are guilty of building these core skills in a piecemeal manner: a creative course here, a brief course there, at School of Ideas we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the whole strategic + ideation process so that talent can experience how the all the pieces work together. This provides a solid foundation on which your own specific philosophy can be built, as well as a deeper understanding of why your philosophy is so unique.
Our culture is skeptical about training. Is this course really going to impact our day jobs?
We specialize in skeptical, busy audiences! School of Ideas is not run by trainers but by experts who also happen to be great storytellers. You will be learning from the people who have actually done the job. Our program is heavy on how-tos and light on theory. Rather than providing a traditional training experience, our graduates describe School of Ideas as a fast-track mentorship program, or as a “time machine for your career."
Can we cherry pick the parts of your program that we need?
We are often asked to provide just that one “unit” which is perceived to be the weakest link at an organization. While we can find the program that best meets your needs, we pride ourselves on providing a framework for ideation vs. just tips and tricks. Our graduates consistently tell us that the most valuable part of the experience is getting a “start-to-finish” process for their thinking, on which to build their own techniques and approaches. So wherever possible we encourage our participants to keep the emphasis on a complete framework.
What format does it take? How interactive is this course?
The format of our programs is a presentation with active participation from the audience: challenging questions to the group, group discussions, breakout sessions to practice core skills, brain games and brain treats. The course is also accompanied by materials that allow participants to keep track of strengths and opportunities.
How many people can I send and at what level?
All talent levels benefit from our course. Newer members get a complete toolbox of methods, principles and examples to kickstart a more rigorous and creative approach to ideas. Senior talent get both a refresher and an incredible stock of case studies to push innovative thinking with their teams and their partners. The ideal number of attendees is from ten to forty people.