Many of our clients ask how they can get their people to think differently - to think around problems, rather than simply taking the same route and expecting different results. This is where creative thinking plays an important role in the workplace.
The issues stopping lateral / creative thinking
- When faced with a problem we tend to make assumptions.
- We make assumptions about how we think things should work, how things can be solved, and how people will react.
- Yet it's by making assumptions that we stifle creativity and create barriers to effective problem solving.
If normal thinking creates normal results, then to solve problems we need to think differently - since creativity, by definition, is about moving away from the norm.
There are a number of exercises used to help people think creatively, and one of the most effective Lequin use in our creative thinking workshops is the Disney 3.
The Disney 3
Walt Disney was famous for his approach to problem solving and creative thinking. Because his mindset could change so dramatically from meeting to meeting, staff could never quite be sure what to expect from him - only that his ideas and ability to solve problems were legendary.
The psychologist Robert Dilts investigated what made Walt Disney such an excellent problem solver. Through interviews with Disney's colleagues, Dilts identified three modes of thinking that Disney switched between: the dreamer, the critic, and the realist. While many of us only use the 'realist' mode - rationalising why options can't happen - Disney cleared his mind of all assumptions and, unhindered by conventional thinking, dreamt what could be before grounding his ideas.
The Disney 3 exercise
We use the following exercise in our 90-minute speed-training 'Creative Problem Solving' workshops, which we recently ran at ASDA.
- Select a problem you want to deal with.
- Choose three places in the room that you can move between - e.g. in Realist mode you may sit at your desk, and in Dreamer mode by the window (we often find participants lie down, as if dreaming in bed).
- It's important to physically move around: each new space helps you feel in a new place, with a new mindset.
- Start in the Dreamer position.
1. Your Dreamer
Think of a time when you were really creative and ideas flowed easily. Now step into your Dreamer position - try lying down or looking out the window. Come up with as many options as possible and write them down. These questions can help:
- What outcome do we want?
- What assumptions are we making about solving the problem?
- What if there were no barriers - what if it were easy?
- What rules do you need to break?
In Lequin's workshops, we find participants' lists of options far exceed those created by traditional brainstorming methods. Now move to the Realist position.
2. Your Realist
Think back to a time when you were careful and realistic, then step into your Realist position. Take one or two of the solutions that most resonate with you (from the Dreamer mode) and start to think about how to put them into practice. These questions can help:
- What resources - including who - do you need to apply this idea?
- What objections might people have, and how can you counter these?
- What timeline do you need to work to?
Now move to the Critic position.
3. Your Critic
Think about being critical in both a positive and negative sense - as a school teacher or restaurant critic. Step into your Critic position and analyse the ideas from the previous stages. These questions can help:
- What's missing?
- What could go wrong, and why?
If your solution survives this trial by Critic, then great. If not, review your list of ideas from the Dreamer stage and move back through the Realist and Critic stages until you find one that does solve your problem.
Peter Willis
Marie Willis