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Think of a challenge you're facing at work.
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Now, what is the worst possible solution you can dream up?
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Really.
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What is a truly terrible way to address this?
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What could get you laughed at or even fired?
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Got a bad idea?
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Good.
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This might just be the best idea you've ever had,
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according to designer and author Ayse Birsel.
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Her concept of wrong thinking on purpose
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may seem counterintuitive, but it's
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a useful tool in the challenge to solve problems in new ways.
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Here's a central example of how Birsel pivots a dreadful idea
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into a brilliant one.
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Switch jobs with, say, a junior staffer or intern.
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It may sound silly, but this humbling "as if" scenario
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can put you into an inquisitive beginner's mindset
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and give you a newfound permission
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to ask, listen, and learn things that an expert would
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assume they already knew.
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Likewise, while you're playing the role of novice,
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your junior employees are trying your job on for size.
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They are now empowered with fresh agency
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to search, experiment, and possibly discover
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new directions altogether without the expected hierarchy
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blocking the way.
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How about this horrible notion?
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Spread rumors about your colleagues.
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If you flip the idea on its head to spreading
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good rumors instead of negative gossip,
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it could be an inspiring way to collectively celebrate
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their strengths.
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Maybe try failing-- intentionally, and repeatedly.
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Sounds like a nightmare until you pivot it
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to a deliberate mistake lab dedicated to celebrating
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and learning from failure.
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Not only could this be a great tool
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to get over your fear of failure,
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but it can reinforce that we learn constantly
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by turning bad ideas into great ones.
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Banning technology at work sounds counterproductive
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and pretty impossible.
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But having a no technology day once in a while
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could remind everyone of the importance
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of face-to-face conversations, walking meetings, even
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meditation without interruptions from email and social media.
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Go ahead.
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Give yourself permission to have an awful idea.
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The very best one might just emerge along the way.
