Comments to: crs@uvm.eduReviewed as of 4/20/98
THIS DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED BY THE NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM. IT IS POSTED BY THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES FOR PUBLIC
USE. THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE CONTENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO THE USERS GUIDE.
EXERCISE 3
Creative Problem Solving
Creative visualization teaches people how to expand the horizons of
what is possible in their lives. One of the most useful skills it
helps people develop is the ability to brainstorm and problem
solve. Brainstorming essentially means taking an amount of unhur-
ried and unstructured time, thinking about a situation you want to
change, and forming plans about specific things you can do to make
the changes.
In this exercise, imagine a situation you want to change that
involves other people. You are especially interested in looking at
this situation from totally new perspectives. Think for a while,
then start making a list of the ways the situation could be changed
if you had unlimited resources.
In actuality, you do have limited resources, but the point here is
to "take the lid off" the thinking process and make the list as
long as possible without any editing. You'll probably discover
options that may be possible with a little more thinking and
planning.
One very important thing to consider in the brainstorming process
is that you aren't alone. People are a resource to you. Make sure
your list includes the people who are available to help you with
the situation.
Just the process of making a list often helps people get a better
grasp on their situation. It's very important that you know all of
your choices and options before you make your plan of action.
When you feel like you have a very complete list of all the
reasonable and remote possibilities, gather in groups of 3 or 4
people. Take turns presenting your situation to the group and see
what the members of the group suggest when they brainstorm for you.
Add any new suggestions to your list.
Look over the list privately and decide whether any of the
suggestions made are useful or possible with your current
resources. In a group, discuss whether thinking in terms of
unlimited resources changed your approach to the problem, and
whether the contributions of others helped.
> Further notes on the exercise:
Brainstorming is designed to expand one's awareness of
possibilities. It is helpful to use the concept of unlimited
resources to get people beyond their standard, habitual beliefs.
Often these beliefs keep people from seeing the options available
to them.
During the brainstorming, people should be warned to ignore
thoughts that start with "But,..." ("But we can't afford it, But we
don't have the time, But I don't know how to do that"). The
emphasis should be on what options are possible no matter what.
Later, the participants decide whether any of these suggestions can
be used with limited resources.
It's best to encourage people to think of problems where money is
not the problem, and the limiting resource. Problem situations
with other people are good for this exercise.
> Time: 12 minutes private brainstorming; 12 minutes group
brainstorming; 5 minutes discussion
Comments to: crs@uvm.edu
Reviewed as of 4/20/98