No two people think alike, and thankfully so!Music, relationships, comedy, literature, medicine, and science are all results of humanity’s plethora of worldly perspectives.From the mundane to the profound, every moment of every mind is flooded with thoughts.While some thoughts seem to surface randomly, others are revealed by a conversation, an observation, a personal curiosity, or any number of triggers.The ability to focus this latter group of thoughts toward a specific goal is an invaluable skill that anyone can possess.
Solving engineering or design problems does not stop with focusing one’s thoughts however. Successful problem solving is about generating ideas. Taking your own thoughts or the thoughts of those around you and developing them further into ideas by way of discussion is the true crux of successful problem solving. And whether you coin it ideating, brainstorming, or just workin’ the old neck ball, it can benefit from these basic practices:
Set the Mood
No, this doesn’t mean burning incense and playing meditation music. Setting the mood means being at ease with your surroundings and fellow thinkers so your attention is on the really important stuff. To set the stage, Key Techees often ideate around a conference table situated on a stage in a large open space with huge windows (our office is a historically-preserved theatre).In contrast to a cramped room, the openness of the environment fosters open minds.This sort of office is certainly rare, but that doesn’t mean that problem solving can’t also be achieved with a small group sitting in a relaxed office atmosphere or even outside in the fresh air (a healthy and helpful boost for the brain).
A Game of Numbers
Solving problems individually can be overwhelming and too narrowly focused. At Key Tech, project hurdles are often discussed and iterated openly and collectively. With the right sized group, something amazing happens. The meshing of minds and voices quite literally creates an “idea filter” that is woven of collective insight and past experiences. Remember that just like a filter however, in the presence of too many “mental fibers” the flow gets obstructed but too few and anything will pass through. At Key a moderately sized group of 5-8 contributors has proven ideal whenever possible.
Q & Q & Q & A
A great answer begins with great questions. Openly voicing all questions, concerns, likes, and dislikes has many benefits. First, it continuously reinforces the overall goal of the discussion. Second, it challenges the initial assumptions of the discussion which broadens the field of thought. At Key Tech, this has uncovered many hidden but far better solutions. Third, questions asked by you may be questions others had but were hesitant to ask. And lastly, questions stimulate thoughts, and, again since no two people think alike, the number of unique solutions to that question just multiplied considerably.
Happy thinking.
Photo credit: Kai Gieseler
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