While many students see possible solutions, others name fixes that involve people and resources outside themselves. Those students tend to see the problem apart from their ability to resolve it. That's why we ask, "What will you do personally to fix the problem that bugs you so much?" Suddenly problems take on a different face. When individuals directly act on solution strategies change happens.
To build new pathways toward the solution each student wanted to materialize, we tapped into visual-spatial intelligence. The visual is one of the eight intelligences and works well to open minds to many perspectives. Throughout our sessions we facilitated students to tap all eight.
Ellen and I brought 20 x 24 sheets of paper and plenty of colored markers to class. We viewed Patti Dobrowlski's TEDX video, in which Patti explains how to use strategies for changes people want to make. Students built on Patti's approach to "trick your brain" by squelching the critic within and freeing imagination.
Seeing solutions: One student drew people working in stations with their backs to one another. She pictured a collaborative environment with work spaces facing one another and a group of sofas at the side where people could go to confer on their work. In her mind this would change how she and colleagues collaborate at work.
Leading Innovation with the Brain in Mind, facilitates leaders to act on solution strategies . While many people do not like going to work for a variety of reasons, very few do anything about it. Ellen and I facilitate students to implement Mita's 5-Way Test to Genius as these young leaders take daily steps to reach their target. In each of the early class sessions, students work with new people, which effectively sparks additional solution insights. Continuous reflection helps hone their tactics.
Acting on Change As young leaders report on changes is taking place, they encourage one another and gain more confidence about personally acting on change. For instance:
- Change starts within: One young leader saw the problem within fellow workers, who continually aggravated him. He dwelt on this over time and this exacerbated the problem. Because he was humble enough to try new tactics to encourage and engage, he began to see new kinds of conversations. He looks forward to creating strategies to build "serotonin" for himself and others. The human brain emits serotonin when you act kindly to others.
- Glitches inevitable: Bringing other brains into the mix offers so many more possibilities. A new leader is now asks many more "what if..." questions during staff meetings She finds that adapting solution pathways collaboratively creates more "buy in."
- Barriers removed: Another student said colleagues sending in productivity reports often made mistakes in the form's Excel formulas. For many colleagues it was not clear how to fix mistakes in selecting formulas. He asked, "what if I create Excel charts with the correct formula upfront?" His new system cut down the problems.
- Actively using Mita: A young innovator built on Mita strategies in her job interview. She exclaimed that applying Mita helped her ace the interview and land the position she sought.
Where to from here? Each time we build toward a Mita Celebration of Innovation, it changes us as well as the young leaders since we are open to the "where to from here..."
How do you see yourself taking a unique twist to problem solving where you work?
How do you see yourself taking a unique twist to problem solving where you work?
