Read an interesting article. What kind of a thinker are we? Professionals are under great pressure to keep ideas flowing, deliver new products or efficient services, organisational models that provide real, tangible value.
Generating, nurturing new ideas is a team effort. 1st step in truly collaborative creative thinking is understanding the roles different types of thinkers play in the process of solving problems, evaluating new ideas. Imagine:
Scenario 1:
Usability testing has unveiled big issues with company’s new software application. You’ve been asked to join a meeting for potential solutions. What’s likely to be your 1st contribution?
a) You ask for full report from usability testing team.
b) You offer 2 approaches for solving issue, then additional ideas for an overall improved user experience.
c) You help understand why some suggested fixes aren’t feasible in launch timeframe.
d) You lay out requirements, steps that will be required to implement proposed solution.
Scenario 2:
Your manager has an idea for dramatically increasing sales through a special promotion. You think the promotion is ill conceived. If implemented will distract the sales force. What action do you take?
a) Sit down with boss to identify recent purchasing trends, assess promotion concept.
b) Tell your boss about 3 ideas for alternative promotions.
c) Send your boss a detailed email outlining risks of promotion.
d) Work with boss to put all the pieces in place for success.
There’s no right answer to questions above. In fact, by choosing any we’re playing a key role in the fix. We take different approaches to generating new ideas, solving problems, addressing possibilities.
A framework developed by FourSight, identifies each problem solving preference, what these preferences mean for break-through thinking, effect on colleagues. In the scenarios if we selected:
A – Clarifier
We’re methodical, serious, deliberate. Clarifiers are hungry for data on ideas. Ask a lot of questions, point obstacles, focused on objectives. Clarifiers may hold work by constantly asking questions, re-framing conversations. But, to move forward teams need clarity from clarifiers interventions.
B – Ideator
Ideators are ‘crazy creative’ people with a ton of big ideas. Highly visible, influential, but not always practical. Ideators always have something new brewing in their minds. But, big picture thinkers can be a source of important break-throughs.
C – Developer
Developers like to deeply know an idea, evaluate alternative ways to approach, make improvements. Excel in finding flaws, pointing out why something won’t work, constantly critical. But, they’re good at transforming good ideas into practical solutions.
D – Implementer
Implementers are focused on getting projects done. When others are generating, refining ideas, implementers want progress, action. Once concrete steps are identified, they’re best at keeping things on track.
Ideators often find themselves crushed by bureaucratic organisational cultures. Clarifiers, Developers can earn reputations for being naysayers. Implementers can be accused of fore-stalling critical steps. Though, each project needs all 4 types of thinkers! If flexible, we can enjoy a blend of these styles in our thought processes, in different scenarios or possibilities.
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