Brainstorming: A Super Important Skill

 Brainstorming is super important because it helps us unlock a whole bunch of ideas and possibilities that we might not have thought of on our own. Think of it like this: when you put a bunch of minds together, or even just dedicate some focused time to free association, you're creating a space where creativity can really flow.

Benefits of Brainstorming:

·      Generates a wide range of ideas: Brainstorming encourages quantity over quality in the initial stages. This means you're not filtering yourself and you're more likely to stumble upon some truly innovative or unexpected solutions.

 

·      Sparks creativity and innovation: One person's idea can trigger another, leading to a snowball effect of new concepts and approaches. It's like building blocks – one idea lays the foundation for the next.

·      Encourages collaboration and diverse perspectives: When done in a group, brainstorming brings together different viewpoints and experiences. This can lead to more well-rounded and effective solutions that consider various angles.

·      Breaks down mental barriers and overcomes "stuckness": Sometimes we get caught in a mental rut. Brainstorming helps us break free from those patterns and explore new avenues of thought. It's a way to shake things up and see things differently.

·      Builds team engagement and ownership: When everyone contributes to the idea generation process, they feel more invested in the outcome. This can lead to greater enthusiasm and commitment during implementation.

·      Identifies potential challenges and opportunities: The brainstorming process can also uncover potential roadblocks or unexpected opportunities that might not have been apparent otherwise.

 

·      Provides a foundation for decision-making: The list of ideas generated during a brainstorming session serves as a valuable starting point for evaluating options and making informed decisions.

Whether you're trying to solve a complex problem or simply plan your weekend, dedicating some time to brainstorming can really open up possibilities and lead to better, more creative outcomes.

Overcoming Functional Fixedness

 

Train yourself and your team in overcoming functional fixedness. 

Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. For example, if someone needs a paperweight, but they only have a hammer, they may not see how the hammer can be used as a paperweight. Functional fixedness is this inability to see a hammer's use as anything other than for pounding nails; the person couldn't think to use the hammer in a way other than in its conventional function.

This phenomenon was first described by Gestalt psychologist Karl Duncker in 1935. In a classic experiment, Duncker gave participants a candle, some tacks, and a box of matches and asked them to attach the candle to the wall so that it would burn without dripping wax on the floor. The solution involved using the box as a platform for the candle. However, many participants failed to see this solution because they were fixated on the box's traditional function as a container.

Functional fixedness can hinder problem-solving and creativity, as it prevents people from seeing novel or unconventional uses for objects. 

However, there are ways to overcome functional fixedness. One approach is to try to think about the object's physical properties rather than its intended function. For example, instead of thinking about a brick as a building material, you could think about its weight, shape, and texture. This can help you see new possibilities for its use.

Another way to overcome functional fixedness is to expose yourself to new and different ideas. This can be done by reading, traveling, or talking to people from different backgrounds. By expanding your knowledge and experiences, you can break free from your preconceived notions about objects and their uses.

Functional fixedness is a common cognitive bias, but it is not insurmountable. By understanding the phenomenon and employing strategies to overcome it, you can become a more creative and effective problem-solver.

K. H. Little Consulting Services

Kenneth H. Little, MA

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