101 Activities For Teaching Creativity And Problem Solving

Related Activities

• Idea Links [41]


• Skybridging [46]

Procedure

1. Have the groups tape a sheet of flip-chart paper lengthwise on a wall or table.


2. Distribute the Be #1 Handout, review it with the participants, and answer any
   questions they may have.


3. Tell the groups to list on the paper, in a single column, the current core benefits of
   their general business category. Prompt them to include both the trivial and the
   essential.


4. Have them create a second column in which they transform each benefit into its
   best state. Have them use the phrase “the best” or a word that ends in “est” (for
   example, “fastest”).


5. Direct them, in column three, to list ways to achieve this elevated status. Note that
   these are their ideas.


6. Instruct them to repeat Steps 3 through 5, but to list in column one new benefits
   that currently do not exist.


7. Tell them to write down any ideas on Post-it®Notes (one idea per note) and place
   them on flip charts for evaluation.

Debrief/Discussion

An appealing feature of this exercise is that it may bring out a competitive spirit that can

be translated into creative applications. More importantly, the matrix structure of this

activity might provide the structure needed for some people to generate ideas instead of

having to “pull them out of the air.” It also provides a potentially useful visual focus for

group members to direct their attention. If participants have trouble generating ideas

with this exercise and time is available, consider having them start over but using new

benefits.

Also consider having participants debrief using the following questions:

• What was most helpful about this exercise?


• What was most challenging?


• What can we apply?


• How would you rate the value of this exercise to helping us with this issue?


• Will this exercise be helpful in the future for other sessions?


• What did you learn?


• What will we be able to use from this exercise?


• What ideas were generated, and which ones were most interesting?

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