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Random Input
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Have you ever found yourself stuck while brainstorming a problem, going over the same ideas over and over again?
In situations like this, it can be difficult to break out of your normal thinking patterns and come up with truly new, creative ideas.
This is when using creativity techniques like Random Input can be helpful. Random Input is a lateral thinking technique, which moves you outside your established thinking patterns so that you can develop creative and innovative ideas.
About the Tool
Random Input was created by psychologist Edward de Bono in 1968, and published in his 1992 book, "Serious Creativity." It's useful when you need fresh ideas or new perspectives during problem solving.
For many types of problem solving, we tend to think by recognizing patterns that we've seen in the past, and applying solutions that we've seen work. Sometimes, though, we get stuck inside these patterns: within them, there may be no good solution to a particular sort of problem. This is where it can be difficult to step outside that pattern of thinking, even if you want to.
Random Input is a technique for linking other thinking patterns into the ones we are using. It helps us move outside our normal way of thinking, so that we can come up with new solutions to our problem.
How to Use Random Input
To use Random Input, you select a random noun from either a dictionary or a pre-prepared word list. It often helps if the noun is something that can be seen or touched (for example, "helicopter," or "door") rather than a concept (for example, "fairness" or "politics").
Then, use this noun as the starting point for brainstorming your problem.
With each word you choose, you'll add a range of new ideas and concepts to your brainstorming. While some ideas will be useless, you'll still gain some good new insights into your problem. If you persist, then at least one of these ideas may trigger a useful creative leap.
Tip:
You may find that Random Input is particularly effective when you select a word from a separate field in which you have some expertise. By doing this, you link in patterns that may be rich with ideas and with potential solutions.
There are several techniques that you can use to select your word.
Choose a random page in the dictionary, close your eyes, and run your finger randomly along the page, stopping anytime. If the word you find isn't a noun, keep going down the page until you read the next noun.
Make a list of 50-100 random nouns - like truck, skyscraper, cloud, traffic, and so on - numbering them as you go along (you can include words from the separate field we talked about in the tip box above). Whenever you find yourself stuck on a problem, pick a random number from, say, 1-100. Then, choose the word that corresponds with that number.
Open a book, magazine, or newspaper, close your eyes, and randomly select a word.
Tip:
De Bono says that no word has ever been "too random" to be effective. The danger lies in choosing words that aren't random enough. This is why it's best not to think of a word on your own, but to leave the selection to chance.
Random Input Example
Imagine that you're brainstorming ways to lift your team's morale.
You've thought of all the "usual" ideas, such as a staff party or offering half days once a month. But these have all been done before. So, you decide to use Random Input to think of some creative new ideas.
You open the dictionary and randomly select the word "dog." How could dogs possibly help lift team morale?
Perhaps your department could have a "bring your dog to work" day once a month.
Everyone on your team who's interested could volunteer to walk dogs one day at the local animal shelter.
You create a contest to spur sales. The top sales professional at the end of the quarter will either win nice prizes for their own dog, or receive money to be donated to a good cause of his or her choice.
Clearly, some of your ideas may be wrong or impractical. But, some of them might be original, and may be the basis of some useful development.
Keep in mind that you can continue selecting random words, and generating ideas, until you find one that's truly useful. You might also find it helpful to use Random Input alongside other creative thinking techniques, such as Metaphorical Thinking and DO IT .
Note:
Random Input is very similar to Provocation , another of Edward de Bono's lateral thinking techniques.
Both techniques have the same goal: to push us outside our established thinking patterns so that we can come up with new ideas. However, Provocation differs in that the word you choose is one that's outrageous, and you have to work to make a connection between the provocation, and your problem.
Random Input is simply that: completely random. It's an easier technique to use, so it's often best to start with this (rather than Provocation) when you're stuck on a problem.
Key Points
Random Input was developed by psychologist Edward de Bono in 1968. It's useful for generating new perspectives on a problem, and can lead to startling creative leaps.
The technique works by providing an easy way of breaking out of restrictive thinking patterns. It helps you to link in whole ranges of new solutions that you would not otherwise associate with the problem.
To use Random Input, you select a random noun from the dictionary or from a pre-prepared word list. You then use the noun as a starting point for brainstorming your problem.
It's best not to choose nouns that come from the same area as the problem you're considering, as the whole idea of Random Input is to link in new thinking patterns; not to stay inside old ones.
Tags:
Creativity, Creativity Techniques, Skills
In situations like this, it can be difficult to break out of your normal thinking patterns and come up with truly new, creative ideas.
This is when using creativity techniques like Random Input can be helpful. Random Input is a lateral thinking technique, which moves you outside your established thinking patterns so that you can develop creative and innovative ideas.
About the Tool
Random Input was created by psychologist Edward de Bono in 1968, and published in his 1992 book, "Serious Creativity." It's useful when you need fresh ideas or new perspectives during problem solving.
For many types of problem solving, we tend to think by recognizing patterns that we've seen in the past, and applying solutions that we've seen work. Sometimes, though, we get stuck inside these patterns: within them, there may be no good solution to a particular sort of problem. This is where it can be difficult to step outside that pattern of thinking, even if you want to.
Random Input is a technique for linking other thinking patterns into the ones we are using. It helps us move outside our normal way of thinking, so that we can come up with new solutions to our problem.
How to Use Random Input
To use Random Input, you select a random noun from either a dictionary or a pre-prepared word list. It often helps if the noun is something that can be seen or touched (for example, "helicopter," or "door") rather than a concept (for example, "fairness" or "politics").
Then, use this noun as the starting point for brainstorming your problem.
With each word you choose, you'll add a range of new ideas and concepts to your brainstorming. While some ideas will be useless, you'll still gain some good new insights into your problem. If you persist, then at least one of these ideas may trigger a useful creative leap.
Tip:
You may find that Random Input is particularly effective when you select a word from a separate field in which you have some expertise. By doing this, you link in patterns that may be rich with ideas and with potential solutions.
There are several techniques that you can use to select your word.
Choose a random page in the dictionary, close your eyes, and run your finger randomly along the page, stopping anytime. If the word you find isn't a noun, keep going down the page until you read the next noun.
Make a list of 50-100 random nouns - like truck, skyscraper, cloud, traffic, and so on - numbering them as you go along (you can include words from the separate field we talked about in the tip box above). Whenever you find yourself stuck on a problem, pick a random number from, say, 1-100. Then, choose the word that corresponds with that number.
Open a book, magazine, or newspaper, close your eyes, and randomly select a word.
Tip:
De Bono says that no word has ever been "too random" to be effective. The danger lies in choosing words that aren't random enough. This is why it's best not to think of a word on your own, but to leave the selection to chance.
Random Input Example
Imagine that you're brainstorming ways to lift your team's morale.
You've thought of all the "usual" ideas, such as a staff party or offering half days once a month. But these have all been done before. So, you decide to use Random Input to think of some creative new ideas.
You open the dictionary and randomly select the word "dog." How could dogs possibly help lift team morale?
Perhaps your department could have a "bring your dog to work" day once a month.
Everyone on your team who's interested could volunteer to walk dogs one day at the local animal shelter.
You create a contest to spur sales. The top sales professional at the end of the quarter will either win nice prizes for their own dog, or receive money to be donated to a good cause of his or her choice.
Clearly, some of your ideas may be wrong or impractical. But, some of them might be original, and may be the basis of some useful development.
Keep in mind that you can continue selecting random words, and generating ideas, until you find one that's truly useful. You might also find it helpful to use Random Input alongside other creative thinking techniques, such as Metaphorical Thinking and DO IT .
Note:
Random Input is very similar to Provocation , another of Edward de Bono's lateral thinking techniques.
Both techniques have the same goal: to push us outside our established thinking patterns so that we can come up with new ideas. However, Provocation differs in that the word you choose is one that's outrageous, and you have to work to make a connection between the provocation, and your problem.
Random Input is simply that: completely random. It's an easier technique to use, so it's often best to start with this (rather than Provocation) when you're stuck on a problem.
Key Points
Random Input was developed by psychologist Edward de Bono in 1968. It's useful for generating new perspectives on a problem, and can lead to startling creative leaps.
The technique works by providing an easy way of breaking out of restrictive thinking patterns. It helps you to link in whole ranges of new solutions that you would not otherwise associate with the problem.
To use Random Input, you select a random noun from the dictionary or from a pre-prepared word list. You then use the noun as a starting point for brainstorming your problem.
It's best not to choose nouns that come from the same area as the problem you're considering, as the whole idea of Random Input is to link in new thinking patterns; not to stay inside old ones.
