Nine New Questions
May 22, 2008
One of the key principles of Speed Thinking is the idea that you do not filter any of your responses. By doing so you can unlock the creative power of your unconscious and you bypass your internal critic. One person’s silly idea might just be the spark that another person needs to solve a problem.
Hence one Speed Thinking Tool to solve a problem is what I call ‘Nine New Questions’. With this tool your aim is to ask nine new questions about the problem at hand. The aim is not to solve these questions but simply to try and create a range of new questions. If we can ask new questions we can dramatically increase our chances of developing an original solution.
For example, let’s assume that the problem was to better manage our work life balance. One new question might be what will you do with this free time or should married managers with kids have first preference with work-life options. These are all good questions that might lead to a more original response.
It is important in this process of asking the questions quickly. Try and ask nine new questions in two minutes. Then if you are working with a partner, select the most unexpected question then spend another two minutes trying to answer this question.
Asking new questions is a wonderful way to start and become unblocked. Nine New Questions is a practical, effective tool to help you think faster. Try it!
Ken Hudson
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