Worst possible idea

7/12/2017

You may be familiar with conventional brainstorming (sometimes reframed as, ‘thought showering’) where participants are invited to share as many ideas as possible. The underlying belief is that a free-flow of ideas in a group is likely to produce more and a greater variety of ideas than would be likely or possible for an individual alone. As psychologist Michael West points out, however, groups tend quickly to experience group-think where people influence each other’s ideas and start to think along very similar lines – thereby actually limiting rather than expanding the range of ideas that emerge.

In some cultures and contexts, political and relational dynamics also influence what people feel willing or consider appropriate to contribute in a group. In light of this, West proposes that it’s sometimes better to invite people to jot down as many ideas as possible separately before sharing in a group and, if expedient, to share them anonymously if that makes it more acceptable to do so. Bryan Mattimore’s creative ‘worst possible idea’ technique goes one step further and breaks the oft-felt pressure to come up with the best or right idea altogether.

Instead, it invites people (light-heartedly) to generate an array of truly terrible ideas (e.g. as Ian Gray suggests, ‘illegal, immoral or unworkable’) and then to identify key attributes – i.e. what makes them so bad? If combined with reverse brainstorming, we can invite participants to engage in counter-intuitive activities such as swapping, ‘How could we solve this problem?’ for, ‘How could we make it much worse?’ Being playful in this way can reduce anxiety, snap people out of traditional thinking patterns and surface seeds of innovation that could prove transformational.

So – what have been your best (or worst!) possible ideas? What did you do to discover or create them?

46 Comments

Marina Kogan

7/12/2017 07:44:25 pm

Interesting point. Don't you think, Nick, it would be more adventurous to collect ideas without the tag - best or worst, no judgment. All in one port. The main task here would be to create the environment when people are ready to share.

Nick Wright

7/12/2017 07:55:05 pm

Thanks Marina. That's an interesting question. I guess that's the idea of a conventional approach to brainstorming - to share as many ideas as possible without evaluating them as 'good', 'bad' etc. I agree with you that working with a group to create the best possible conditions for sharing is fundamental too.

The thing I love most about 'worst possible idea' as an ideation technique is its deliberately playful and provoactive spirit, enabling us to stretch the edges/boundaries of our thinking and assumptions, similar to lateral thinking techniques. It can be fun too, releasing fresh energy and a positive psychological state in a group.

Clare Pedrick sometimes uses something similar in coaching, inviting coachees to explore polar extremes before identifying ideas and options that may lead to decisions. It can enable all kinds of new and, at times, unexpected insights and ideas to emerge that may not have been possible otherwise.

Richard Gold

9/12/2017 03:35:14 pm

Nick, I use a similar technique to your 'worst possible idea' in LEGO Serious Play workshops when establishing team behaviours. Participants are asked to build models of the characteristics of people who would be a nightmare to have as part of a team.

9/12/2017 03:47:17 pm

Hi Richard. What a great idea!

I have used something similar with a team. They were reviewing and renewing their team's purpose and, instead of coming up with a list of conventional, pedestrian ideas, I invited them to draw images or symbols on a flipchart together of their worst possible/nightmare team. It created a lot of energy, humour and some great ideas for purpose, focus and ways of working.

Incidentally, on the Lego front, one of my housemates has a creative Lego channel on Youtube called 'Gold Puffin Lego Animation'. You may like some of his stuff. Very zany! :)

Claudia Bloom

11/12/2017 05:55:18 pm

Wow, what a great idea! I taught an influencing class once that had an after-lunch activity: Develop the worst ideas you've ever experienced about rewards and recognition; why did they de-motivate people and create cynicism? This enabled us to create a list of best practices.

11/12/2017 05:59:55 pm

Thanks Claudia. That sounds like a great way to approach reward and recognition! I could imagine inviting a group playfully to create a tongue-in-cheek strategy: 'How to ensure demotivation and cynicism in the most imaginative ways possible.'

Robert Cserti

12/12/2017 08:52:09 am

I recall there have been some studies lately about the inefficiencies of group brainstorming, particularly that simply by shouting out ideas, the group starts to converge too fast, instead of developing ideas in diverging directions.
One practical suggestion against this is to combine brainstorming with brainwriting, so first encouraging participants to write down some of their own ideas, and then sharing a round of them in a structured way, and then again back to writing mode, and so on...
Reverse brainstorming (coming up with terrible ideas) is also an interesting approach, I wonder how much is group-think a potential threat to that process.

12/12/2017 08:57:48 am

Hi Robert. Yes, 'brainwriting' is, in effect, the same approach advocated by Prof Michael West for those same reasons. I think that's an interesting question of whether group think poses the same risk when using a 'worst possible idea' technique. I imagine it does...and, at the same time, I wonder whether the psychological and group psychological processes involved in 'worst possible idea' have some mitigating effect?

12/12/2017 11:02:45 am

Not having tried the reverse brainstorming myself, I find it intriguing, and I'd assume that it actually mitigates a group-think effect as you said, simply because it more encourages 'wild' ideas. I might try at a next workshop, thanks for the inspiration :-)

12/12/2017 11:04:54 am

Thanks Robert. It's the wild aspect that appeals to me most! :) If you do try using the 'worst possible idea' technique, I would love to hear what happens!

Avinash Phillips

12/12/2017 08:58:20 am

Some helpful insights there.

12/12/2017 08:58:43 am

Thanks Avinash!

Michelle Collins

12/12/2017 09:04:31 am

Love this idea!

12/12/2017 09:05:48 am

Thanks Michelle. Me too. I love the name of the idea, 'worst possible idea'. It makes me smile - and that makes me feel more creative. :)

Neza Vidmar-Banerjee

13/12/2017 12:23:13 pm

The idea sort of reminded me of the indirect logical operation “proof by contradiction” where our first premise starts off by claiming sth opposite to be true and through deduction seeing if the whole argument has any value. Starting off with nonsense is sometimes a great way to come to sth that makes sense. Naming it “worst possible idea” does take the pressure off a bit too (not to give a indirect solution or part of it immediately) and makes it sound fun. Thank you for sharing.

13/12/2017 12:30:36 pm

Thanks Neza. I can see the similarity to the principle of 'proof by contradiction' (although my mathematical skills are too terrible to be able to think of an example!) and, I agree, 'worse possible idea' has a humorous dimension that can make it less intense and, thereby, possibly more creative?

Glenn Butler (FLPI)

13/12/2017 01:52:03 pm

I've effectively used the 'yes, and...' technique. One person in a pair has an idea and the other has to build on it by saying "yes, and..." and repeat a few times. it creates some fun in a group and ideas or themes can be discussed in more detail after.

13/12/2017 01:55:36 pm

Hi Glenn. Yes, 'yes...and...' is a great technique for building on ideas - and for building team spirit. It could be fun to combine it with 'worst possible ideas' to see what emerges! :)

Susan Landay

13/12/2017 07:30:35 pm

Using sticky notes on a board is a great way to write down and share ideas. The notes can also be moved around or clumped together.

13/12/2017 07:38:42 pm

Hi Susan. Yes, very true. A playful way to use the notes can be to juxtapose or place random ideas in clusters to see if that sparks fresh insights and ideas. :)

Marie-Christine Lammers

14/12/2017 11:35:01 am

Thanks guys, in full intercultural training now where barriers are obvious and less obvious, I am keen on trying out those ideas (reverse brainstorming, yes/yes/and..., brainwriting,...) ! Usually I already split the group up in subgroups to do brainwriting and brainstorming and thus generate a different flow of ideas. We bring it all together in the end but at least we limit the effect of peer pressure or contagion.

14/12/2017 11:36:13 am

Hi Marie-Christine. Your intercultural work sounds interesting. Let us know what happens if you try the 'worst possible idea' technique in that context!

J Ross

14/12/2017 11:36:49 am

This will help overcome thinking barriers, because now everyone is going to think for him /herself. Wonderful Idea.

14/12/2017 11:37:56 am

Thanks J Ross. Writing down ideas separately before sharing them in a group can certainly help people think for themselves first.

Jennifer M Campbell

14/12/2017 11:39:15 am

Good one Nick! Playful and fun, with the potential for wild possibilities.

14/12/2017 11:40:00 am

Thanks Jennifer. I think it's the 'wild possibilities' aspect that particularly appeals to me! :)

Martin Cocchiarela

14/12/2017 11:41:37 am

The discussion reminds of Edward De Bono's Six Thinking Hats to work through multiple paths of thinking through a problem. The white hat encourages thinking through known facts. The yellow hat encourages thinking through the positives--benefits and value. The black hat encourages thinking through the downside--playing the devil's advocate and considering the risks. The red hat focuses on the emotional alarms--fears, likes, and dislikes. The green hat signifies innovative possibilities--the alternatives. Finally, the blue hat is used to manage and control the thinking process as people work through the other hats.
http://www.debonogroup.com/six_thinking_hats.php

14/12/2017 11:43:54 am

Hi Martin. Yes, there are clear resonances with lateral thinking techniques. You may find these related short pieces interesting?

http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/dissonance
http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/counterintuitive

Elisabeth Morrell

14/12/2017 11:44:38 am

Wow. Mind blown.

14/12/2017 11:45:21 am

Hi Elisabeth. Intriguing. Say more..?

Neill Hahn

14/12/2017 11:47:59 am

Thanks Nick for this idea. Going the "wrong way" sounds brilliant for stimulating the creativity in minds that have been (over-)trained to only be "right". I have been in meetings where no one puts forward a solution to an issue & found that intentionaly putting forward a controversial idea will then prompt challenges to it from the group, amongst which is often a good idea. Your method is less sneaky, so I may switch to that. Thanks again.

14/12/2017 11:53:00 am

Hi Neill. Your 'sneaky' comment made me smile. :) Posing deliberately provocative statements can be a useful technique too as it can help to challenge assumptions in a group.

One of the great things about the 'worst possible idea' technique is that, if introduced well, it creates a relaxed, playful and curious mood in the group which is often when best ideas emerge.

Dr. Steven S. Merrill

14/12/2017 11:54:10 am

Sounds like an excellent way to break the tension, and then get back on track.

14/12/2017 11:56:15 am

Thanks Steven. Yes, it can certainly help break tension if introduced and facilitated well - and if the group is willing to engage with it. We could think of the process itself as part of the track, part of the journey, that helps us get to where we hope for.

Donna Dimmock

15/12/2017 10:16:23 am

🏳️‍🌈 I find voting apps like Menti.com great for generating anonymous ideas.

15/12/2017 10:17:14 am

Thanks Donna. I hadn't seen that app before. I've just had a quick glance and it looks good! :)

Susan Williams

15/12/2017 10:19:14 am

Combine yes-and with yes-but to first build onto ideas, and then to clarify them.

15/12/2017 10:21:08 am

Hi Susan. Yes, that resonates with DeBono's 'six hats'. Although we sometimes risk discounting 'yes-but' because it is perceived as 'negative', there can be real value in both.

Robin N. Cook

16/12/2017 10:49:18 pm

Years ago, Fast Company ran an article about someone who was doing a similar variation on Scenario Planning (I wish I could remember his name). He would tell the group to come up with the most unlikely, totally improbable thing that could possibly (most likely never) happen to their business. He would then have them come up with plans to address that possibility.

It was exceptionally effective.

16/12/2017 10:51:35 pm

Hi Robin. That sounds interesting too. Perhaps a kind of 'worst possible scenario' technique. It reminds me of 'black hat thinking' in DeBono's lateral thinking techniques.

Ian Brownlee

16/12/2017 10:53:22 pm

An excellent alternative to brainstorming is the "Walt Disney Creative Strategy" which produces really useful results. The only problem is that it requires a specific setup which might be a bit problematic.

16/12/2017 10:54:09 pm

Hi Ian. That sounds intriguing. Can you say a bit more about what it entails in practice?

Apneesh Singh

16/12/2017 10:55:38 pm

'Worst possible idea' is a great tool for the audience to think out of the box because we generally tend to create a virtual world with thoughts full of moral values, beliefs etc if asked for the best idea.It can be done by some role plays as well by performing an activity which force person to think morally but doing exactly against his nurtured values. This will probably unleash creative ways of doing things differently.

16/12/2017 10:58:35 pm

Thanks Apneesh. I love that idea of role playing in ways that clash with our normal values and behaviours to see what insights and possibilities rise into awareness when we do! Excellent.

Iris Wangermann, PhD

21/12/2017 11:20:52 am

Love it. I would probably start with people writing down their ideas first, and then ask them to brainstorm. Will try it right away tomorrow. :)

21/12/2017 11:21:20 am

Thanks Iris. Let us know what happens! :)