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China wants to ensure rain storms take place where and when they want them to... That does NOT include the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. So, the Weather Modification Department in China is seeding approaching clouds with activators to induce rain storms outside the National Stadium. Over the past 12 years of testing they've increased rain storms by 24%. Not bad.
How cool would it be if you could do with brain storms, what China is doing with rain storms? What if you could employ activators when problems are approaching and seed brain storms to produce 24% more solutions?
The Problem Modification Department at Idea Sandbox has prepared this short list of activators for you to employ.
(1) PROBLEM DEFINED - A caveat as we start... Our focus is HOW to fix a problem, not figuring out what is broken. I'm going to assume your problem has been properly defined, and now you need potential solutions.
(2) CONDUCIVITY - You need to fish where the fish are - sometimes that means moving your boat. You will increase your chances of coming up with great ideas if you surround yourself with the right resources and remove interference. The formula Tim Gallway outlines in his book, "The Inner Game of Work," works well for me: PERFORMANCE = POTENTIAL - INTERFERENCE.
Increase idea performance with these interference-removing practices...
- People - Make sure you've assembled a combination of both subject matter experts and those new to the challenge. Also, you don't need cynics at this stage, you need ideaists... those willing to throw out any potential solution. (There will be plenty of time for filtering ideas that won't work at a later time).
- Energy & Stimulation - Be well rested. A well-rested body makes a more productive brain. Take breather breaks every few hours. Skips the M&Ms and Skittles for energy/brain foods such as: fresh bananas, almonds, and pumpkin seeds. Keep your hands busy; it helps you to think better. Equip your space with Play-Doh, TinkerToys, Legos...
- Place - Be somewhere free of distractions, email, phone, and interruptions. The further you can get away from the "real world" the more creative your ideas will be.
(3) RESOURCES - Finally, if you want more than a misting of ideas... Instead, I'm talking about a river-flooding, downpour of ideas... You need to follow a structured process. Simply sitting in a conducive room with conducive people won't get you there. Adding structure and timing will ensure you work the problem and stay on task.
Here are a list of immediate (NEED IDEAS NOW!) and short-term (GOT TIME) resources that will provide you with the tools you need to dissipate problems.
NEED IDEAS NOW!
If you don't have enough time to check out your local book store or get an overnight delivery from Amazon, use these immediate on-line resources.
GOT TIME.
If you have the luxury of a day or two, order some of these great tools. (Most of these provide process without a lot of reading).
CARDS & DECKS
IDEO Method Cards by IDEO :: William Stout Books
Creative Whack Pack (Cards) by Roger von Oech :: Amazon US | Amazon UK
KnowBrainer by SolutionPeople :: SolutionPeople Site | Purchase
Thinkpak: A Brainstorming Card Deck by Michael Michalko :: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Free The Genie by Idea Champions :: Idea Champion Site | Purchase
BOOKS
In addition to these great titles, check out the list of books categorized in the brainstorming genre on the Idea Sandbox Wiki.
"101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques" by James Higgins :: Amazon US | Amazon UK
"A Whack On The Side Of The Head" by Roger von Oech :: Amazon US | Amazon UK
How to Have Kick-Ass Ideas by Chris Barez-Brown :: Amazon US | Amazon UK
"Creativity Today" by Ramon Vullings and Igor Byttebier :: 800CEORead | Amazon UK
Best to you using these activators to get you the biggest, nastiest, squall of a brain storm!
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Comments
Paul: Excellent post! Very cool to have several of my products ("A Whack on the Side of the Head" and the Creative Whack Pack) included as well (blush, blush).
Posted by: Roger von Oech | 11.19.07
Thanks for this post. It reminds me just how important creativity is in running a business, no mater what that business does.
A note to Roger:
Roger, back in the 1980's I first bought A Whack on the Side of the Head and then A Kick in the Seat of the Pants. I was CEO of an event company at the time with a staff of 35 people.
Creative pitches and projects were our life's blood. I made sure everyone in the company got your books and I must say it helped a lot.
Thanks for your books and your input. Here's a funny story that relates to one of the excuses people give for not doing something creative. Namely "I am not creative."
When I got your book all those years ago (I must have been one or tw years old (:-)) I gave it to my brother-in-law who was ad still is a great artist. He never thought he was creative and in fact worked in a warehouse. Being one that relished security, he stayed at that job until he retired.
Guess what? He is over 70 now and is busy painting, creating videos and taking pictures for his friends and family. He even makes money doing it. I think he works more now then he did before he retired.
The moral of the story is it is never too late.
Posted by: Harry Hallman | 11.19.07
Paul
You rock! This is stellar. I love this WikiMindMap. I've been searching for something like that for years. Thanks a ton.
TJ
Posted by: TJ McCue | 11.20.07
Roger - Your stuff is terrific! Thank *you*! And thanks for popping onto the DailyFix.
Posted by: Paul Williams | 11.20.07
Harry - Thanks for your note. If you use the my "inner child" rule, simply add together the digits of your calendar age to obtain your inner child's age. I'm 38, 3+8=11. Your brother in law is what... 71, 72... that puts him a 7+2=9. A 9-year old inner child. Nope, never too late.
Posted by: Paul Williams | 11.20.07
TJ... no _you_ rock! Thanks for taking the time to comment. And I'm pleased I was able to pass along a helpful resource.
That's the only reason why I write!
Posted by: Paul Williams | 11.20.07
Dear Paul,
How well I recall a boss sitting a group of folks around a table and saying,"Ok, now we're going to brainstorm about...". I had brain fog at that point and didn't think I had an ounce of creativity in me. Maybe it was there and something in me resisted unlocking the door? Thanks for taking the rain out of my problem solver parade. I'm a new blogger seeking to help others figure out how to live with vision loss. I've been blind since birth...ya know, the ROP deal? Check out
http://www.afb.org
for more info. Just wisping in to give my unclouded appreciation for clearing skies!
Posted by: Jo Taliaferro | 11.23.07