Corporate Vocabulary Field Guide

What “Blue-Sky Thinking” Actually Means

Unconstrained brainstorming, ignoring practical or budgetary limits.

What it actually means
Let's daydream for 40 minutes before someone says 'that's not feasible' and we return to the existing roadmap.
Surface meaning: Unconstrained brainstorming, ignoring practical or budgetary limits.
If someone just said “Blue-Sky Thinking” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
Manager: Let's do some blue-sky thinking. (Idea #1: same as last quarter.)
How to respond

Time-box ruthlessly. Twenty minutes blue-sky, then twenty minutes constraints. Mixing the two kills both.

Origin

Advertising and design, mid-20th century. Survived because nothing replaced it.

FAQ
What does "Blue-Sky Thinking" actually mean?
Let's daydream for 40 minutes before someone says 'that's not feasible' and we return to the existing roadmap.
Where did the phrase "Blue-Sky Thinking" come from?
Advertising and design, mid-20th century. Survived because nothing replaced it.
How should I respond when someone says "Blue-Sky Thinking"?
Time-box ruthlessly. Twenty minutes blue-sky, then twenty minutes constraints. Mixing the two kills both.
Related corporate vocabulary
Boil the Ocean→30,000-Foot View→Synergy→North Star→Table Stakes→
Next in the glossary
Bandwidth→Cycles→Throw Spaghetti at the Wall→

The email version of this phrase is in your inbox right now.

The Email Relevance Checker tells you whether that thread ever needed you on it.

Open the Email Relevance Checker →
Copied