People are more creative for others than for themselves, according to researchers Evan Polman and Kyle Emich. The working principle is called construal-level theory, which simply means we tend to think in more abstract terms about far-away problems (or problems belonging to people not as close to us) — and thinking in the abstract generates more creative solutions, Polman and Emich conclude.
Boost your business skill as a negotiator, manager, product designer, marketer or advertiser by:
- Asking someone, in a coffee shop or anywhere else you might be in a line, for a solution.
- Naming your problem to a networked cloud online, you would have access to many remote people who will likely share a solution quite quickly.
- Imagining you will solve the problem for someone else or coming up with words of advice for another professional in your circumstances.
See what you get for answers. And, while you're at it, let someone else do it for you!
After all, Jared had a very keen insight about Mita's Growth chart, and it was the first time he saw it.
Thoughts?
4 comments:
Sorry to leave an unrelated comment, but I couldn’t find any contact info for you. I’m wondering if you’d be interested in a guest post. Please drop me an e-mail. Thanks!
Allison, I have not invited guest authors since my blog is specialized. Thanks for asking and hope you do find someone who would like to have you do just that.
I'm very curious about what the Mita Growth chart looks like. The words "down" and "diagonally" have started my brain imagining. First when I skimmed your article, I pictured up and to the right...like as sales "hockey stick" type chart.
But when I re-read and saw down diagonally, I pictured a Gantt chart with steps along the way...
I totally agree about having someone outside the situation help with seeing the problem. It's impossible to picture it when you're too close and too involved.
Great post Robyn!
Chris
Hi Chris, Ellen Weber and I have kept the chart as a tool for clients. It has six rows with the first row showing that using Mita's five phases equals growth. Each of the five steps are included in order in the first row in the chart and then followed by the symbol = showing what you get. In the first row all the phases equal GROWTH.
In the next row down in the chart, Our first phase two-footed questions is a blank space. Without two-footed questions that stem from the topic, yet also capture the interest of the learner, a learner might not even care to answer. The rest of the second row names the other four Mita phases and after the equals symbol is the word, PASSIVITY.
Each row in the chart follows this method. In the third row, the two-footed question is listed in the first square, but the second square where target should be is left blank. This same pattern follows for each of the phases listed in the chart. The square for each new phase is left blank. So in the fourth row down, the square for the third phase is left blank.
Carol, I hope I've given you enough meat here for you to picture how the chart is laid out.
You are so right, when you are too close, it takes someone else to capture a nugget of gold. So appreciate your comment.
Post a Comment