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
This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.
Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.
Open the simulator →