When Great Ideas Stop Feeling So Great
Cliftonstrength darkside ideation shows up when the same spark that ignites possibility starts to burn a little too bright. If Focus is the engine that drives you forward, Ideation is the spark that lights up new paths. People high in Ideation live in a world alive with connections, metaphors, concepts, and unconventional pathways—they’re the team members who see patterns no one else notices, the innovators who can’t help but ask, “What if…?”.
With Ideation at number 2, this resonates deeply for me. And what started as an exciting partnership has, in the past, at times, slid into frustration or conflict. Times when I have had great ideas the day before a presentation, or when we’ve already decided a way forward. (For more insight on conflict, read the Katalytik Whitepaper on Conflict and Communication and access our insights on how you can interact more effectively with some CliftonStrengths when you understand their drivers and style. Further, a useful reference on blind spots can be found here .
But what happens when the ideation engine doesn’t stop?
When the flow of ideas becomes overwhelming instead of inspiring?
When possibility becomes pressure?
In this next chapter of our Dark Side of CliftonStrengths series, we explore the paradox behind one of the most beloved strengths. Ideation is exhilarating — until it isn’t. It can become a source of stress, self-doubt, and mental fatigue when unmanaged. And for those working with someone high in Ideation, it can be a challenge to keep up with the speed, volume, and unpredictability of their thinking.
We’re going to explore how Ideation can let you down, what its shadow looks like (when it goes to the dark side), and more importantly, how to harness it so it becomes a sustainable asset, not a source of depletion, and be that Jedi warrior.
It’s perhaps not a surprise that Ideation ranks high for people with an ADHD diagnosis. Read more
The Beauty and the Burden of Ideation
People high in Ideation naturally:
- Generate new concepts quickly
- Connect ideas across different domains
- Thrive in brainstorming and innovation
- Love novelty, variety, and experimentation
- See alternatives others miss
This ability is a competitive advantage — especially in environments craving creativity. But the dark side of Ideation often surprises those who rely on it most.
The Blind spots of the Ideation theme – when it starts to let you down
Here, I explore four common blind spots caused by Harmony and strategies to shift from the dark to the Jedi side. See if you recognise this in yourself, a friend, or a colleague.
1. Too many ideas, not enough direction
A mind full of sparks can become a mind full of static. The excitement of generating ideas sometimes prevents people with Ideation from following through. They may:
- Start multiple projects and finish few
- Hop from one concept to the next
- Lose interest once the novelty fades
- Feel overwhelmed by their own mental activity
This can be misinterpreted as inconsistency or lack of commitment, when in reality they’re simply energised by the front-end creation, not the back-end execution.
2. Idea overload → cognitive stress
Having “too many tabs open” is exhilarating right until it becomes exhausting. People with Ideation can struggle with:
- Racing thoughts
- Difficulty sleeping
- Mental clutter
- Trouble prioritising
- Feeling drained by too many choices
What others see as a creative gift can feel internally like a pressure cooker with no off switch.
3. Innovation that outpaces the team
IWe Ideators often live three steps ahead. The downside?
- Others may struggle to understand their leaps
- Team members may need more structure or clarity
- Their rapid pivots can feel destabilising
This can lead to frustration, lonely innovation, or feeling misunderstood.
4. The dark side of divergent thinking
Ideation can unintentionally create:
- Overcomplication of simple tasks
- Constant change that disrupts momentum
- A tendency to move away from standard processes
- Resistance to repetition
In its shadow, Ideation can turn into disorganisation or perpetual reinvention.
5. The identity trap
Because Ideators are known for their creative mind, there can be internal pressure to always have a fresh idea. This leads to:
- Feeling inadequate when inspiration slows
- Self-criticism
- Comparison to past successes
- Stress around “performing creativity on demand”
Creativity is cyclical, not constant — but many of us with Ideation forget this, judging ourselves harshly during low-idea seasons.
Strategies to harness the power of Ideation
1. Capture, Don’t Chase
Instead of following every idea in real time, create a system:
- “Idea parking lots”
- Digital notes
- Voice memos
- Whiteboards
- Colour-coded idea buckets
Your goal: reduce cognitive load by storing the idea safely instead of holding it mentally. Let it go. Appreciate that not every idea is a good one. It’s part of the path to the great one. And sometimes, oftentimes, we need others to make that a reality!
2. Pair your Ideation with another of your strengths, or someone else’s, to create a filtering process
Ask yourself:
- Does this idea align with current priorities?
- Can it wait until next quarter?
- Is it worth the energy required to explore?
Create a “criteria checklist” to filter ideas before investing time.
3. Build an execution safety net
Partner with people or systems that provide:
- Follow-through
- Practical grounding
- Step-by-step structure
- Realistic pacing
Execution isn’t a weakness — it’s the counterbalance.
4. Communicate the ‘why’ behind new ideas
Help your team follow your thinking by:
- Explaining what sparked the idea
- Highlighting what problem it solves
- Showing how it connects to the bigger picture
This builds buy-in and reduces misunderstanding. Share your joy in ideas and add humour. “Hey, I’ve had another idea” or “what do you think of..”
5. Schedule Ideation, don’t let it take over
Create boundaries like:
- “Ideation hours”
- Dedicated brainstorm sessions
- Weekly creativity rituals
- Closing the mental browser at night (so important to get good sleep!)
When creativity has a container, it becomes powerful. Allow your colleagues to ask you to leave your Ideation outside the door!
6. Celebrate seasonality
Not all months are equally creative — and that’s normal.
Learn to recognise and honour cycles of:
- Idea generation
- Refinement
- Rest
- Execution
This helps reduce guilt and burnout.
Strengths that partner well with Ideation
Pairing Ideation with complementary strengths creates sustainable innovation.
Here are ideal partners:
- Focus — narrows the idea flood into a direction
- Discipline — creates structure and order around projects
- Strategic — identifies the best pathways from idea to result
- Activator — turns ideas into quick starts
- Achiever — brings momentum and productivity
- Analytical — tests ideas against data
- Communication — articulates ideas clearly and persuasively
Below is the comparison table (similar to the Focus blog):
Ideation + partner strengths table
| Partner Strength | What it adds to Ideation | How they balance the Blindspots | Ideal work scenario |
| Focus | Direction, prioritisation | Stops idea overload; pushes completion | Turning one idea into a concrete plan |
| Discipline | Structure, consistency | Prevents chaos; turns concepts into repeatable processes | Scaling a new system or programme |
| Strategic | Pattern recognition for decisions | Filters which ideas are viable | Choosing the best path among many options |
| Activator | Momentum, action | Moves ideas out of theory into motion | Rapid prototyping or quick experiments |
| Achiever | Sustained energy, follow-through | Helps projects reach the finish line | Long-term initiatives that need consistency |
| Analytical | Evidence, logic | Tests ideas for feasibility | Validating or refining innovative proposals |
| Communication | Clarity, storytelling | Helps others understand the idea | Presentations, proposals, influence settings |
Deep Dive: Why Ideation + Strategic Is a Power Duo
Ideation is a gift for possibility—seeing connections others miss and generating fresh angles fast. Yet without an anchor, the idea stream can turn into noise, stalling action, and diluting impact. Pairing Ideation with Strategic creates a powerful circuit: you keep the creative flow, while Strategic sorts, sequences, and channels ideas toward outcomes that matter. Luckily, it’s commonly paired with Ideation. However, I hereby offer a personal note of caution, to improve collaboration and communication. Always take time to check in with your colleagues to see if they are following your train of thought. Pause, to order your thoughts and build your story!
| Challenge of Ideation | How Strategic helps | Coaching insight |
| Idea overload – Generating too many ideas without prioritization can lead to overwhelm and lack of focus. | Strategic filters ideas through patterns and outcomes, identifying which ideas align with the bigger picture. | Ask yourself : ‘Which idea moves you closer to your desired outcome?’ Try ranking ideas by impact and feasibility. |
| Difficulty in execution – Ideation loves the ‘what if’ but can stall when it’s time to act. | Strategic creates a clear path forward, turning abstract ideas into actionable steps. | Use: ‘What’s the first step that makes this idea real?’ Pair ideation with a timeline to maintain momentum. |
| Distracted by novelty – constant pursuit of new ideas can derail ongoing projects. | Strategic keeps focus on the goal, ensuring novelty serves progress rather than distraction. | Ask: ‘How does this new idea fit into your current priorities?’ Reinforce alignment with long-term objectives. |
| Frustration with constraints – Ideation thrives on freedom: limitations feel restrictive. | Strategic reframes constraints as creative boundaries, guiding ideation to innovate within limits. | Prompt: ‘What’s possible within these parameters?’ Turn constraints into a challenge for creative problem-solving. |
| Difficulty communicating ideas – Ideation can struggle to explain abstract concepts clearly. | Strategic organizes ideas into logical sequences, making them easier to communicate and implement. | Suggest: ‘How can you map this idea into three key steps or outcomes?’ Build clarity for collaboration. |
In coaching, I invite clients to treat Ideation like a wellspring and Strategic like a sluice gate. The wellspring never stops; the gate selects and shapes the flow.
Practically, that means naming the outcome, filtering ideas by fit and feasibility, and committing to a first step. This disciplined creativity preserves energy, improves communication, and keeps momentum—so your best ideas don’t just sparkle; they ship. Because these strengths are commonly found in people’s top 5 it’s easy to be blind to the steps to make both strengths shine.
🌟 Ideation generates options.
Strategic selects the best one.**
How the pairing works:
- Ideation sparks unconventional concepts : Strategic narrows them to the highest-impact choices
- Ideation imagines new angles : Strategic discards low-value directions
- Together, they create visionary plans that are still grounded
Without Strategic:
Ideas stay scattered.
With Strategic engaged: Ideas become decisions, pathways, and momentum.
It’s one of the most effective combinations for leaders, innovators, consultants, and entrepreneurs.
Conclusion: Ideation is a gift — when you learn to guide it
Ideation isn’t meant to be tamed; it’s meant to be channelled. The goal isn’t to reduce your creativity — it’s to harness it in a way that fuels your wellbeing, your impact, and your confidence.
When you pair Ideation with the right partners, create systems that support your flow, and understand when the “dark side” is activated, you unlock a version of the strength that is sustainable, energising, and truly powerful.
Some further reading
- Focus and its Blindspots
A great companion piece to Harmony, especially when discussing tunnel vision and conflict avoidance.
➤ Read the blog [katalytik.co.uk] - Communication – Strength or Weakness?
Ideal for discussing how Harmony interacts with communication styles.
➤ Read about Communication [katalytik.co.uk]
Find out more about how Focus can be a powerful leadership attribute.