Break Out of Your Standard Patterns of Thinking

thinking

Apple popularized the phrase “Think Different” in it’s ad campaigns. Great innovators see the world differently. They look beyond what’s obvious and expected, and seek out novel solutions to problems. You can push yourself to be more creative by trying out new approaches to challenges. In the movie “Good Will Hunting” this was illustrated by the students standing on their desks to get a new perspective.

When you’re in a situation where you’re tempted to resort to your usual methods ask yourself these questions:

  • What expectations and assumptions are you bringing to the situation
  • How are your personal background, professional expertise, and relationships at work affecting your methods?
  • How might someone from another department or industry view the challenge?
  • How might you tackle the project if you didn’t already have a plan in mind?

These kinds of questions can help you break out of your standard patterns of thinking and reach for new ones. It may also help to write down the project’s key requirements and details. Having to choose words to describe a situation can reveal your perspective on it; once you’re aware of your perspective, you can try switching to another one.

For more information on how a Modern Observer coach/consultant can help you contact us here