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Thunderbolt Thinking Technique:
BRAIN JOLTS
What is it? This technique uses analogies and metaphors to force insights into a
problem by analyzing a completely different situation and then going back to the problem
at hand.
Why is it important? This technique shifts and expands your attention and allows you to focus
on details you might otherwise ignore.
How do I do it?
Play with creative analogies and metaphors
when you are trying to identify your organization's or group's purpose. For example, ask
your group, "What if our management team were a sailboat?" Or, "What
element in nature reminds us of our product?"
From there, spin out the metaphor, looking
at all the attributes.
What ideas or thoughts emerge that could
apply to your organization, team, or product? When a potato chip company was wrestling
with the problem of chip breakage, they thought about elements of nature that resembled
their broken chips. They came up with dry leaves. As they considered all of the attributes
of leaves, they arrived at the observation that wet leaves do not crumble but instead
conform to each other and pack together. From there, it was a short leap to invent
Pringles potato chips--which are packaged when the potato slices are still wet, so they
conform to each other and stay whole."
What are some ways to use this
TNT? Metaphors help groups move from traditional linear
problem solving to arrive at unique solutions. By drawing new relationships, their
thinking is enhanced.
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