Brain lab whole brain thinking ebook

The BrainLab

THE BRAIN LAB

Let’s get Radically Collaborative An IDEAengineering™ storybook by SeriouslyCreative to help your pull together successful teams that innovate, collaborate and leap from insight to idea to implementation faster and better.

© 2022 SeriouslyCreative

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Business As Usual just isn’t enough In an very complex world where the pace of change is set to light speed, competition is global, technological shifts make today’s competitive advantage obsolete in an instant and where one person can challenge the dominance of a whole industry, you bet business as usual is not enough.

Today’s business can no longer sit back and wait for gradual evolution of the marketplace. They can’t simply try and extract more e iciency from their current business model. The age of incremental change is over. It is the age of innovation where any organization that wants to thrive (or even just survive) must be willing to take the leap into the murky waters of innovation, create new value through creativity and imagination and create industry disrupting revolution.

We call these organizations Innovation by Design Enterprises and the people who run them Idea Engineers. We want you to be one too.

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The future is now and creativity is the key As part of their annual Global CEO Survey IBM (yeah, the super smart people) de ined the “Enterprise of the Future” as one that would need to be hungry for change, willing to innovate beyond customer imagination and disruptive by nature amongst other things. Having talked with over 1,400 global leaders they found that the greatest challenge organizations are facing is the increased complexity of business.

CREATIVITY

Ask what leadership competency they felt they needed most over the next ive years to capitalize on this complexity and they overwhelmingly said…

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All of us are smarter than any of us and you just can’t do it alone.

It used to be that to solve a problem we could simply pull together an expert or two, give them some time, maybe some co ee and - by applying their deep knowledge of what had been done before and accomplished by others - they could arrive at the appropriate solution. Yes, challenges were complex but they were isolated to speci ic functions. Marketing challenges were dealt with by marketers. Finance by CPAs. etc, etc, etc.

Those days are over. Today’s challenge are more often more complex, more fast moving and need new solutions rather than old applications. And it means that the sole expert can’t bring you the answer - at least not by themselves.

This is the new world of multidisciplinary teams with diverse thinking styles that work together much like a movie production crew - experts and technicians from various and diverse areas come together for a period of time to create something new.

Less department focus, less bureaucratic walls, more great work done.

This is a good thing. The lip side means that in our complex and light-speed world of business we can create the solutions by sourcing the ideas from a cross section of people in our organization. Read on and we’ll explain.

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Then… single function solutions, Now solutions created by multidisciplinary teams. [multidisciplinary team]

[single discipline]

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Great people don’t think alike Dr. Ned Hermann, author of The Whole Brain and formerly the head of talent development at GE, discovered that the concept of right and left brain thinkers was just a bit too simple. In fact, the brain has four functions - investigative, creative, evaluative and planning. We all have the ability to do any one of these functions but we each have favorites - skills that come more naturally than others.

This means that if you are an investigative dominant mind you value data and sequence more than someone who, say, is a creative dominated person who values big picture and strategic intent more.

“I use not only all the brains I have but all that I can borrow.”

Woodrow Wilson US President & one great team leader

The down side of this is that when we put people with di erent thinking styles in a meeting they tend to struggle to make the rest of the group “see it their way” or focus on what they think is important.

Fear not. There is a silver lining. These di erent perspectives can lead collaborative teams to create much more holistic ideas that produce better business results. The secret to taking advantage of this diversity is to make sure your planning, strategic, ideation meetings have a diversity of thinking styles included and that everyone is aware of the thinking styles and the need to assure that each styles is given it’s opportunity to shine.

This is called WHOLE BRAIN THINKING.

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Con licting needs Take a look at the con licting needs of the di erent thinking styles. Can you see how what one values and wants drives the other absolutely crazy in a meeting. Imagine what an Experimenter/Evaluator thinks when a Designer starts throwing around wild and seemingly unrealistic ideas. Or how a Designer chafes at an Investigator slowing them up from designing ideas by constantly asking “but, why....”

Investigators

Evaluators

Designers

working solo clarifying issues being challenged analyzing data putting things together making things work technical aspects using numbers/stats analyzing/diagnosing explaining things formal presentation

taking risk having variety creating metaphors seeing big picture dealing with future bringing about change developing new things conceptual framework experimentation time for exploration loose agenda comfortable ambiguity

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Activators

ordered environment being in control developing structure planning things out evaluation of inputs deadline achievement administration structured tasks attention to detail follow up logistics

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organizing teamwork participatory activities communication clarity group interaction working with people hands-on design coaching planning collaboration being part of team expressing ideas listening/talking

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The Method to our Madness Along with values that promote more productive and disruptive idea creation, Idea Engineers have a starting point and methodology to guide them through what to most seems to be the unconquerable uncertainty of any new venture.

The path to innovation takes getting used to this messy front end and letting go of businesses addiction to extreme predictability. After all, if you can predict the outcome from the start so can your competitor.

They know that all innovation starts by asking questions and then working your way forward through uncertainty in order to identify patterns and develop insights. Ideas are created upon the back of insights and through experimentation greater clarity is created and real value identi ied.

[evolving solution]

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Our Approach IDEAengineering™ allows for innovation to be managed, directed and produced when needed. It is not a linear process like so much of what business are used to; but it does have rules, direction and best practices that make it practical and repeatable. It harnesses the inherent tensions that ignite innovation balancing iteration with direction, divergence and convergence, abstract and concrete, learning and creating, analysis and creativity.

This tension is what makes innovation fuzzy and sometimes intimidating but also what makes it a powerful agent of change. Our framework is a theoretical understanding but a tested approach that builds upon the shoulders of great thinkers in how imagination is applied. We have learned from the best of foundation processes in innovation like Osborn- Parnes CPS, PDCA, AcceleratedInnovation, ThinkX and Design Thinking to produce a framework that is memorable, practical and proven in the ield.

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4 phases. 8 focuses. Dozens of tools.

The process of disciplined imagination.

Design Ideas

Test with People

Accelerate Action

3 5

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2 4

Understand the Problem

Reframe the Challenge

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Prototype to Learn

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Aligning your thinkers based on their skills [Make Sense]

A team aware of their thinking preferences and given an approach to assure that all these talents are used in a coordinated approach can do great things.

Investigators Mathematical Technical Analytical Logical

Innovation and creative problem solving has a proven trajectory that assures each thinking style is harnessed and that you move from stage to stage building towards a real world solution.

Evaluators Planners Strategic Organized Controlling Detailed

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[Make Choices}

[Make Connections]

[Make It Happen]

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Designers Conceptual Synthesizers Holistic Artistic (aesthetic ) Investigators Action oriented Talkative Musical Emotional Interpersonal

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Then use them in powerful ways.

Having Whole Brain Teams is a great start towards more innovation. But it is half the secret. The other half is pulling together project teams with diversity of experiences, di erent roles in the organization and di erent specialties.

[Whole Brain Teams]

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Departments and divisions kill creative thought .

We have departments to assure we have the right specialties together and to assure accountability and focus. But this tried and true (or is it untrue?) business organization practice is getting in the way of our ability to create and champion great new ideas and game changing solutions. Today’s business complexities demand a more holistic and collaborative approach.

So, what are we to do?

Create “T-shaped” teams. (T-shaped what?). Stanford University refers to T shaped teams to describe multidisciplinary teams that have people with very deep expertise (think the shaft of a “T”) matched with people with broad knowledge that can connect these areas of expertise (think the top of the “T”).

This means that whenever you have a challenge - problem or opportunity - that needs some new thinking, new ideas, a di erentiated solution - pull together a team from across the organization to lead and contribute thinking to your challenge. This means enticing people who may not be accountable to the end results of the challenge to join in and dedicate time to building a new solution. A marketing challenge (for example) might bene it greatly from the perspective of a nonexpert in accounting.

Think not? We have seen it happen. The more complex the challenge with more e ect on the overall organization the greater the need for these multidisciplinary team.

Now, we know that getting someone from another department or division to join your innovation team might be, let’s say, “di icult.” But don’t be deterred. Look on your own team for diverse thinkers who bring unique experience along with a broad reach to your challenge.

You will be pleased by the results (and other departments will be jealous!)

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Why are experts sometimes the problem?

Of course we need expertise in much of what we do. Experts deepen are knowledge and help us better understand the intricacies of speci ic challenges. We would not have made it to the moon without rocket scientist. But when we are trying to do something new, something di erent from the standard approach, experts can sometimes become victims of their knowledge. Years of experience has taught them what is possible and what is (supposedly) not, what is the most e icient approach and how a speci ic challenge has been handled by others in the past.

But doing new things means sometimes suspending what we know, looking at the challenge through new eyes and being willing to challenge the conventional wisdom - all things that can be hard for people who have been working in that ield for a long time. That’s why experts need nonexperts to ask the “dumb” questions, ask “why” a lot and put some virgin eyes on it.

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[Who invented that!?]

Airplane Makers Wright Brothers Cotton Gin George Manby Mechanical Engineer Captain of the Militia G.W. Garrett Aeronautical Engineers Bicycle

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So, what can you do next to bene it from this?

Let people know

Post it if you have to

Project Teams

Thinkers on Loan

Cross Team Rewards

Make sure everyone on your team knows the thinking style of the other so they are aware of how others think, how they think and how this matters when we need to work together.

Some organizations make thinking styles visible by posting each persons thinking style on their of ice door.

Every time you have a need for some innovation thinking create a project team and give them the time, space and freedom to really deal with the issue.

You’re on the sales team but need someone from operations to help broaden your thinking? Ask for the thinker on loan.

Reward systems often help reinforce barriers between people, By creating rewards and reconditions that encourage cross functional teams you are more likely to get people to really work together.

They also post reminders of what different thinking styles want and need in a meeting in every conference room.

This means carefully selecting members of the team to assure some diversity.

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Some companies designate people on different team as available for “loan” to another team needing their different thinking. Of course, some coordination is needed between leaders.

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#WeAreSeriouslyCreative An Innovation, Strategy and Experience by Design Company.

We work with brave organizations and bold leaders combining creativity, human centered design and agile ways of working to solve problems, accelerate growth, amplify collaboration and deliver the future.

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Mission

To empower PEOPLE in organizations with the mindset, tools and con idence they need to become agents of change and innovation.

Our Why We believe in the impact people have when they work together to create products and services that promote sustainable growth and add value to Puerto Rico and the world.

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WE ARE NOT business-as-usual-suit-and-tieconsultants leaving you with threering binders and forever retainers.

WE ARE genuine, experienced, best in class facilitators and trainers who master results driven human centered + agile frameworks for innovation & culture acceleration.

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#PlayWithPurpose

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We design the conversations that transform businesses.

Areas We Help With…

Start from the Beginning

Discover & De ine Opportunities

Create a vision for people to follow and collaboratively design the path to get there.

Identify new markets, audiences, insights and needs so you can gain the con idence to accelerate action.

Get People Working Together Get your team aligned on the mission, vision and strategy so they can co-create the future you want.

Move from Ideas to Action Decide which ideas to launch and apply agile ways of working to sprint your project from backlog to done.

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Design Products, Services & Experiences Design human centric solutions that your customers really value, crave and need.

Inspire & Manage Change Get everyone on the right mindset so they can manage complexity, become more agile and solve problems creatively.

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Services We O er…

Facilitations Designing meetings & conversations that help teams unleash creativity, drive alignment, envision the future and empower them to rally and do great things collaboratively.

Training Experiences

Research & Insights

Embedding new skills and ways of thinking & working while doing.

Helping you discover truth & Insight that power innovation.

Events that Matter

Design Sprint Guide teams though a framework that helps them get from design to prototyping, and testing ideas with customers in just 4-5 days.

Crafting immersive events and productive conversations that engage your team.

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16 years and 170+ clients Experience in consumer product and service businesses, startups and working with B2B client branding and marketing efforts, culture and organizational shift, strategy and market launch.

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ARE YOU READY TO RFP? If you are ready with an existing challenge and would like to see a proposal, scan the enclosed QR code. It will take you to a brief assessment form. This way we can better understand and focus our approach to your project.

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Tel. 787-283-6077 hello@seriouslycreative.com seriouslycreative.com

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