We all know that it helps to view things from a different perspective. That's part of why we seek the opinions of other people. Their viewpoint and experience can open up new ideas when we are too close to a situation.
Years ago I came across the book The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander (Harvard Business School Press, 2000). The authors present twelve mental techniques that can open up new options when applied to a specific topic. I really liked it as a way to unblock situations and come up with innovative approaches. I've used it in my own life to do a couple of "impossible" things. I should probably remember to use it more!
It's not a fluffy self-help book, although the anecdotes are engaging. These are real techniques based on high-performance teams and group psychology.
It's not a process, in that you don't run through 12 steps and come up with an answer. Rather, use which of the techniques you like, or all of them, to remove self-imposed restriction and generate new ideas. Part of the authors' thesis is that we grow up in a world where resources are scarce and there is competition for them, so we tend to see the world in those terms. So, for example, we could imagine resources are not an issue... now what would we do?
My personal favourite is called "The Way Things Are". I run a one-day Possibility Thinking workshop and in that I summarize this technique as "deal with what is here and now; we start with what is, not from what should be, then look for the possibilities". If you, like me, find yourself thinking "well, it shouldn't be like that", then this technique can free you from that mental constraint and help you to start thinking about options to deal with how things actually are. This tends to move things forward better.
Here is a summary of the techniques, but read the book for the full context.
Technique |
Ideas from the book |
Example of implementation |
| It’s all invented | We make our own boundaries and set our own limits; we create our own fears and limitations, we can also invent our future success | Ask yourself, “What assumptions am I making that make this seem impossible?" |
| Stepping into a universe of possibility | The universe and its resources are not finite | Identify what you would do if time and resources were not an issue |
| Giving an A |
Creating a possibility to live into; give people an opportunity to live their dream | Assume people will do well and speak as if they are doing so and are capable. This lifts their performance |
| Being a Contribution | You are a gift to others; there is nothing better | Look for what you can do, even if it does not solve the whole issue |
| Leading from any chair | You always have something to give; give it from where you are | Offer leading thoughts and action regardless of position in organization |
| Remember Rule #6 | Lighten up and enjoy the trip; know the difference between your calculating self and your central self | Describe how you messed up in a light way |
| The Way Things Are | Go with the flow; deal with what’s here and now; we start with what is, not from what should be, then look for the possibilities | Look at what is here and what can be done. Don't waste time thinking that it shouldn't be like that. |
| Giving Way to Passion | Give attention to the larger patterns of which we are a part; enhance the flow of life with our gift; see the long line; flow with the rhythm of life | Do positive things you enjoy, even if apparently unrelated to the problem at hand, as the energy will lift other aspects of your life and work |
| Lighting a Spark | Some things are better done in person; address a person’s passion and you achieve enrolment | Don't be too cool for school - show your passion and enthusiasm |
| Being the Board | You are the board upon which the game is played; you control the pieces and create your outcome; you are responsible for what happens in your life | Reflect on what you can do in the situation, maybe learnings for next time, rather than dwelling on why it happened to you |
| Creating Frameworks for Possibility | When you place your whole being into the issue, avenues of possibility open; it all starts with a clear vision | Classic visioning |
| Telling the WE Story | Getting beyond ‘us’ and ‘them’ to ‘we’; it addresses the whole entity and not the individual elements (people) that make up the ‘we’ | Literally use the word "we" instead of me/you or us/the. What do we see as success? |
If you would like to talk more about the techniques, or if you would like a one-day workshop for your team then reach out on LinkedIn, or view my services at fieldenablement.com
In the workshop we take real professional or personal situations and apply the 12 thinking models to generate new options for forward progress in a collaborative style. If you have a business issue your team needs to unblock then that can be your topic, or people can bring diverse topics to apply the techniques. Either works.
All the best,
Gareth