I’ve worked with a number of clients in my career coaching practice. I use a tool that measures a person’s level of creative idea flow. Someone with a high level of idea flow will frequently be capable of viewing multiple solutions to a problem when others see only one. These gifted people with high idea flow tend to be easily distracted with shorter attention spans, but the reason for that distraction might be a gift rather than a disability.

It’s remarkable how many clients with high idea flow have told me they struggled in school with focus and attention. Ironically, these are the people many employers want today. Why? Because people with high idea flow have the ability to work on multiple projects at one time and generate creative solutions with relatively little information given to them.

Take a look at the sample aptitude report on pages 18-19 and notice what is said about a person with high idea productivity. Leaders with high idea flow tend to frequently burst forth with a new idea that they think could solve the problem, but they often fail to follow through to see that solution come to fruition because they quickly move on to the next idea. Sound familiar?

What if the world needs more idea producing talent? What if your distractibility could be a gift to an employer who values creativity and multitasking?

The next time you notice your child, spouse, colleague, or even yourself getting distracted… pause the guilt trip. Give yourself a break and ask “what is going on that caused my distraction?” If you were brainstorming something in the recesses of your mind when your spouse caught your attention saying “hey! Stop staring off and listen to me for once…” you might have a high level of idea productivity. It doesn’t need to be killed or suppressed, but harnessed into a useful talent that could propel you in your career.

Want to learn more about your own idea productivity?