Have you ever been stuck before and needed a different solution?
When’s the last time you reimagined something that exists by creating a new future for a current present?
With the right innovation mindsets, you can build momentum and get unstuck, fast.
Yesterday, I exhibited at Innovation Guelph's Innovation Expo to share about the services I provide to organizations: innovation training and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshops.
I’ve been pre-planning how I would arrange my trade show booth, thinking I would do a U-shaped style with four tables.
When I arrived, the shape wasn’t so much a U, but and more like a [ size - there wasn’t as much depth as I envisioned.
I looked at the configuration and thought, how am I going to make this work? I wanted people to be able to experience LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, as well as see my various displays in an easy way.
I started taking things out of my cart, moved things around on the table, but nothing worked for the experience I wanted.
My brain got stuck with the existing structure and thinking I had to use what existed. After some time, I realized… why not just change the structure? There’s other ways to tackle this problem.
As I pondered in my brain what structures I could do, I got stuck again with analyzing each solution and not moving forward with any momentum. I was in analysis paralysis.
This was taking too long and time was ticking. I needed to get out of my head. So, I decided I would prototype it, iterate, test and learn quickly.
I needed to actually do it and see it, rather than a cerebral cognitive exercise.
I shoved the four tables around, with several iterations, until finally, the solution emerged.
I rotated two of the tables so there were vertical with chairs on each side and put the other two togethers as a big square for the display section.
Essentially, I created two stations: a doing station (for LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® experiences) and a seeing station (so attendees could see the visual posters I created to talk about the innovation training workshops I bring to organizations).
The end result:
I was really happy with the setup and thankful I had innovation mindsets to help me in the moment I needed it the most.
I had to overcome two challenges - challenges that happen to all of us:
1. Expert brain. My expert brain told me I had to go with the existing structure or keep the traditional structure of most trade show booths. It told me there were very few options available and I had to make due.
I adopted a beginner’s mindset to overcome my expert brain and help me think differently about the situation.
2. Analysis paralysis. Sometimes we need to think by doing and not think by thinking.
I adopted a prototype mindset - that I’ll learn by prototyping, testing, learning and iterating and created momentum towards the challenge.
Do you get stuck doing things the way things that have been done before? Do you want to create a new future but are getting stuck with the current present?
Adopt a beginner’s mindset and a prototype mindset. It’ll help create new solutions and get you unstuck and build momentum towards your goals. It’ll help you reimagine the current present and create a new future.
If you need help with adopting these two innovation mindsets in your organization, reach out! We have two innovation mindset workshops on each of these topics that will get you unstuck and build momentum!
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