Innovation Competency Series
Power Thinking Tool: Connect the Unconnected, pt 9 of 13
(Continuing series on the innovative thinking competencies needed
for innovation.)
"It can't be done ... "
"It has to be made out of ... "
"Our customers want ... "
"Our price has to be ... "
"People would never ... "
We make hundreds, if not thousands, of assumptions every day. And, that's good ... if we had to stop and verify every thought we have, we'd grind to a halt at morning orange juice. However, when we're trying to create something new, we have to stop and identify the assumptions we're making and then challenge each of them to find where we might branch off into new territory.
Ann Herrmann-Nedhi who teaches the InnovationIgniter's "Challenge Assumptions" module, gives a powerful example of Margaret Thatcher who in 1969 said there would never be a woman prime minister in her time. Today there have been over 40 women prime ministers, including Margaret Thatcher herself.
Assumptions about what is true can blind us to new possibilities. When wanted to enter the personal stereo market, Masuru Ibuka challenged the existing assumptions about size and insisted that the final product be small enough to fit in his pocket.
"Everyone knows" (a great sign of a widely-held assumption) t-shirts are made out of cotton. However, one Denver company makes t-shirts out of 50% cotton and 50% recycled soda bottles which are melted, whipped and then spun into fibers.
A powerful way to generate new possibiities is to list assumptions and then think through alternatives if the assumption weren't true.
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Challenge Assumptions: breakthrough our often self-imposed, mental barriers to reveal completely new possibilities. Challenge Assumptions is one of the power-thinking skill sets of the new Innovation Igniter Thinking Wheel series of 13 innovative thinking competencies.
The 15-minute learning module for this competency is presented by Ann Herrmann-Nedhi, CEO, Herrmann International, recognized expert in whole brain thinking. These thinking skills are critical for innovation and for the creative work required for today’s world. A 15-minute video module on "Engage Energy" is available at http://innovationigniter.com.
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