Random connections can lead to powerful ideas (Part 4, of 4, of The Funky World of Brainstorming Tools!)
Unpredictable, random connections can lead to amazing ideas (image by iStock)
More from the Brainstorming Playbook!
In previous weeks I introduced you to Re-Expression, Related Worlds, and Revolution ideating tools. This week…
Random Links
Let’s dive into the pool of tools!
Two Little Words
(adapted from “Instant Creativity,” Clegg & Birch)
See what associations you come up with from using the two words provided. Then choose your own two words and see what connections you can make using those words – and what ideas that generates! In this exercise, the sillier the better because silly ideas often turn out to be the best ones.
Here’s the process:
● Identify a problem
● Your random words are: “cartoon” and “button”
● What does combining these words make you think of?
● Next choose your own two words and see what other connections you can make.
Here’s an example of what a participant in a class I was teaching came up with:
Her problem was how to design shoes so they’re easier to store. By combining ‘cartoon’ and ‘button’ she came up with two Ideas:
1. The first one was to Press a button on the shoe that makes it fold.
2. The second one had the rest of us in stitches… Pressing a giant pulsing cartoon button on her wall summoned a gorilla who stomped the shoes flat. This led the group to wonder “how can we shrink the molecules of a shoe so they’re tiny, and then reconstitute the shoe when it is to be used?” This led to thinking about powdered foods and drinks, then… dehydrated shoes!
1-Word
This is also useful as a warm-up tool. In this exercise, a story is told one word at a time, person by person. Encourage people to throw in an oddball word occasionally. For example: “(You) Yesterday… (next person) I… (next person) saw… (and so on) a … crocodile … in… my… living room...,” etc. Keep going round the circle until it feels like the story has reached its natural conclusion.
How will you and your team use Random Links ideating tools?
Plan on using one of these techniques in an upcoming meeting. Play with this tool in advance of the meeting so that you’re clear on how it works, how to explain it, and guidance you’ll give if people get stuck.
Need help?
Rock Star Managers Coaching Program (next cohort is April 3, 2024) is just one option for deepening your expertise in using ideating tools and creating a culture of creative problem-solving and innovation, which will contribute to you being an even more highly valued manager! Contact me if you have any questions: Ellia@ThePotentialCenter.com
I believe that, with the right support anyone can learn creative ways to solve problems. If you’d like to see what tapping into creative potential could look like at your place of work, contact me at Ellia@ThePotentialCenter.com to arrange a call.