Tired of the outdated and flawed brainstorming technique?
To boost creative output, skip brainstorming and instead think about “jamming” like musicians do.
In a jam session, ideas flow freely without comparison or competition. This collaborative approach allows concepts to build off each other, leading to creative breakthroughs.
Next time you plan a brainstorming session, upgrade it to a jam session for elevated results.
Watch this week’s video for more on the power of jamming and how to do it effectively.
The Where’s Waldo technique.
Remember the fun of finding Waldo in a crowd? The challenge wasn’t in the storyline but in scanning every detail of the page, boosting your awareness to new heights.
What if you brought that same level of awareness to work? You’d notice nuances in your customers, competitors, and industry that you previously skimmed over. This heightened awareness will uncover fresh ideas and opportunities for improvement.
Try the four-step Where’s Waldo Awareness technique:
Step 1: Set a Timer: Start by setting a three-minute timer.
Step 2: Observe Your Surroundings: Look around the room and take in every detail.
Step 3: Identify Improvements: Write down everything you see that could be improved. For example:
- The small chip of paint in the lower left corner of the room.
- Sloppy cords around the projector.
- A painting that is slightly tilted to the right.
- One out of eight fluorescent bulbs missing from the light fixture.
- A small coffee stain on your chair.
Step 4: Review and Reflect: After the timer goes off, review your list and reflect on how these observations could lead to improvements.
Now that you’re warmed up, repeat the cycle observing a business challenge or opportunity you’re facing. Try “Where’s Waldo’ing” your sales process, marketing message, competitor’s website, production workflow, or hiring plan. It’s amazing what you see when you really look.
A (physical) paradigm shift in airport construction.
Airport gates usually stay put, but Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) recently moved four newly built gates across the tarmac to Terminal C in an industry first. Constructed remotely, these 900,000-pound gates were transported using high-tech flatbed trucks, reducing project time by 20% and costs by 25%.
This innovative approach not only sped up construction but also enhanced sustainability. The gates feature dynamic glass to keep temperatures cooler, reducing the need for air-conditioning and lowering electricity consumption.
DFW’s strategy exemplifies how rethinking traditional methods can significantly improve efficiency, sustainability, and many other areas.
What’s one thing worth rethinking in your business or personal life this week?
The power of radical curiosity.
Imagine you’re tasked with inventing a better mousetrap. Traditional brainstorming might lead to small improvements, but true innovation comes from questioning everything. Why use a spring? What other methods could catch a mouse? What if bait was no longer an option?
Radical curiosity pushes you to think beyond norms. What if you lit the house on fire? What if you blasted punk rock music so loud the mice left on their own? What if you flooded the house to catch mice?
While these wild ideas are impractical, radical thinking can later be adjusted to become more realistic. Instead of flooding the house, a water-based trap might be a novel approach. Blasting music may annoy the neighbors, but a high pitch that is undetectable by humans but really annoys rodents could be used.
As the late creativity professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi once said, “Creativity involves crossing the boundaries of domains.” Break rules and embrace curiosity to achieve originality.
To your creative success…
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About Josh
Josh Linkner is a New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, venture capital investor, professional jazz guitarist, and a globally recognized innovation expert. To learn more or to explore a collaboration, visit JoshLinkner.com
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