Speed Thinking is based on an insight
I noticed that when I was working with managers and leaders and they had say an hour to solve a problem or generate an idea not much happened for the first 50 minutes or so.
In fact, not much happened until I poked my head into a breakout room and announced:
Hi guys – there is 10 minutes to go!
With that there was a surge in activity and energy.
Amazingly in a few short minutes, all the groups generated powerful ideas and solutions.
Using this insight, I developed a new approach which I called Speed Thinking.
The reason that Speed Thinking is such a powerful approach is that it stops you procrastinating and listening to your (often) critical internal voice.
What if i am wrong for example can silence your most original, raw ideas.
Hence saying to people – right let’s go and try and generate 9 ideas in 2 minutes can unlock often rich, breakthrough ideas.
People are often amazed at their own creativity.
The tool of which I called Ideas Blitz
Ideas Blitz consists of a 5 step process and a new 9 bubbles visual template.
I then a wrote a book about Speed Thinking (published by Allen & Unwin, 2010).
I have taught this tool to thousands of people, all over the world from students to leaders.
Speed Thinking is energetic, creative and can boost productivity.
In a world which is asking everyone to do more with less we need new tools rather than relying on meetings and brainstorming.
Ideas Blitz is one such tool.