Building a Learning Metabolism to Support Innovation and Action
Tom Chi is an inventor who started Google X, Google’s invention team. During the first 10 months he was there, he and his team of 10 produced more than half the patents Google had ever produced from that time forward. Patents included things like Google Glass, self-driving car technology, Project Loon, glucose monitoring contact lenses, and more.
Tom utilizes a powerful methodology to build a learning metabolism capable of solving big problems quickly.
This technique allowed him to create a working prototype of Google Glass in just one day! Now, he teaches people all over the world how to solve systemic problems – environmental, social, health, corporate, etc. – by enabling people to think beyond what's been done before. It begins with a unique brainstorming process.
You can use this methodology to invite as many unfiltered ideas into the room as possible, making every voice heard. You’re far more likely to find the best and most successful solution if you’re choosing from a list 50 ideas than 1 or 2!
Pose a clear question around a problem you wish to solve. “How do we…?”
Instructions: Instruct participants that they will be asked to spend 2 minutes individually writing every idea they can think of. Each person must write at least one ridiculously simple idea – something so “easy” they normally wouldn’t bother writing it down. Each person must also write at least one outright crazy idea – something so outlandish, it feels ridiculous or impossible.
The reasoning: By sharing simple ideas, we are guaranteed to have solutions we know will work. By sharing crazy ideas, we are giving ourselves full permission to stretch beyond our normal thinking patterns. We are safe to share any idea, because every idea is valued. By individually writing, we invite our minds to engage on the question in a deeper way, without filtering or holding back based on what others are saying.
Start a 2-minute timer and begin.
When the timer ends, ask everyone to stop writing. Go around the room, and ask every person to share what they wrote down. Ideas are not repeated; instead each person shares only those new ideas that have not yet been offered.
If helpful, go around the room one more time, and give people a chance to expand or play off ideas that were shared by others, if a new possibility was sparked.
If helpful, categorize and group the ideas, so that like suggestions are combined and incorporated together.
Prioritize the ideas, and choose 2-3 suggestions you believe are worth pursuing and ideas you can immediately implement successfully.
Guiding Principle
The key to solving big problems is to be in action, trying ideas, learning from them, and iterating again and again. Don’t let the search for the perfect solution hold you back! What is a first step you can take to begin learning what you need to know to solve this problem? And begin it now…
Reposted from Colorado Thought Leaders Forum Blog written by Sara van Rensburg in March 2020

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