Seeing The Point Online

Seeing The Point Online

2 - 20 participants

Problem solving and creative thinking skills. It's ideal to use as an introductory or ice-breaker activity to develop innovation skills.

Seeing the Point serves as an ideal ice-breaker or introductory exercise, fostering innovation and assisting teams in tackling complex challenges. Seeing the Point can be deployed as a non-verbal virtual training activity.

The activity unfolds in two distinct stages:

  1. Individual Creativity: Participants, divided into small sub-teams, utilise their given components to craft as many unique shapes as possible.
  2. Collaborative Innovation: All sub-teams converge, pooling their components without adding extras. The challenge? To create even more shapes by leveraging collective creativity.

At its core, Seeing The Point visually encapsulates the principle of 'doing more with less'. It contrasts the linear, step-by-step problem-solving method with the expansive realm of 'breakthrough' or 'blue-sky' thinking. This engaging activity is perfect for introducing concepts like 'alignment' and 'synergy'. While the initial challenge is intriguing, subsequent tasks demand a shift in thinking and collaborative dynamics to arrive at a solution.

A prevalent sentiment among teams is the daunting task of achieving more with fewer resources. This activity challenges that notion, prompting learners to adopt a fresh perspective, transcending apparent constraints and conventional solutions.

In the first stage, up to four sub-teams receive seven components each, with the goal to form four distinct shapes. They can manipulate these components on-screen, adjusting their orientation and position. The subsequent challenge, crafting five shapes, demands a paradigm shift in thinking. In the second stage, while each team can view components from other groups, they can only manipulate their own. The overarching question: Can they craft more shapes collectively than they did in their isolated sub-teams? The answer is a resounding yes.

Furthermore, Seeing The Point underscores the significance of diversity. When diverse elements (or colours) come together, they achieve more than when segregated.

Key Learning Outcomes
:

  1. Enhanced Problem Solving: Cultivate advanced problem-solving techniques.
  2. Creativity & Innovation: Foster creativity and nurture innovative thinking.
  3. Breaking Patterns: Rehearse thinking skills that challenge and replace old patterns.
  4. Diverse Approaches: Understand the nuances between incremental problem-solving and 'breakthrough thinking'.
  5. Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: Delve into the nature of 'limiting beliefs' and their potential to stifle creative processes.
  6. Synergy in Action: Experience the practical demonstration of 'synergy' – achieving more with fewer resources.
  7. Embracing Change: Champion change management by thinking 'outside the box'.

An example of how to use the Seeing the Point activity within your organisation or with clients is our 6 week communication skills mini programme.

Seeing The Point is a dynamic online activity tailored to enhance problem-solving and creative thinking within teams. This digital adaptation of a classic physical exercise challenges participants to not only innovate individually but also to harness collective creativity. By navigating through a series of tasks that require both individual and collaborative innovation, participants experience firsthand the power of diverse thinking and the potential of synergy.

Applications
:

  1. Team Building Workshops: Ideal for teams looking to foster better collaboration and break down silos.
  2. Innovation Training: For organizations aiming to instill a culture of innovative thinking and problem-solving.
  3. Leadership Development: Helps leaders understand the value of diverse thinking and how to harness collective creativity.
  4. Change Management: Assists teams in navigating change by encouraging 'outside the box' thinking.
  5. Diversity & Inclusion Workshops: Demonstrates the tangible benefits of diverse perspectives coming together.
  6. Strategic Planning Sessions: Encourages teams to look beyond the obvious and explore unconventional solutions.

Outcomes
:

  1. Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: Participants develop a refined approach to tackling challenges, moving beyond traditional methods to embrace innovative solutions.
  2. Collaborative Synergy: Teams discover the power of collective creativity, realizing that the whole can indeed be greater than the sum of its parts.
  3. Breaking Mental Barriers: Participants learn to challenge and replace limiting beliefs and old patterns, paving the way for fresh perspectives.
  4. Understanding Diverse Approaches: Teams gain insights into the differences between linear, incremental problem-solving and expansive, 'breakthrough' thinking.
  5. Valuing Diversity: Participants experience firsthand the benefits of diverse thinking, understanding that when diverse elements come together, they achieve more than when isolated.
  6. Practical Application of Synergy: Teams witness the principle of 'doing more with less', understanding how to harness available resources for maximum impact.
  7. Improved Communication: As participants navigate the challenges, they refine their communication skills, ensuring clarity and mutual understanding within the team.
  8. Adaptability: Teams learn the importance of adaptability, understanding that in a constantly changing environment, flexibility and a willingness to pivot are key to success.

In essence, Seeing The Point offers a holistic learning experience, equipping participants with the tools and mindset needed to navigate the complexities of modern teamwork and problem-solving.
After completing the puzzle, if observers were involved, turn to them for insights. Invite them and the participants to pinpoint specific questions, actions, or suggestions that catalyzed the 'thinking breakthrough'. Offer feedback to those involved to highlight and reinforce valuable aspects of the process.

For a deeper dive into the group's experience, consider the following review prompts:

  1. Emotional Reflection: Ask participants about their emotional journey during the activity. Did they grapple with feelings of frustration or boredom, or were they invigorated by the challenge?
  2. Openness to Innovation: Probe into their comfort level with proposing novel perspectives on the problem. How did they feel when presenting fresh ideas, and how were these ideas received by their peers?
  3. The Power of Alignment: Highlight that to solve the puzzle, the four arrow-shaped pieces needed to point in the same direction. Draw parallels to the workplace by asking: How can aligning individuals, teams, and objectives lead to outcomes that surpass the mere sum of individual contributions?
  4. Achieving Alignment: Delve into the practicalities by asking: What steps are necessary to foster this sense of alignment and shared purpose in real-world scenarios? What would be the initial actions to set this in motion?
  5. Valuing Diversity: Point out that the puzzle's solution involved a 'negative space' arrowhead pointing opposite to the solid pieces. Use this as a metaphor to discuss the value of diverse thinkers in a team. Ask: How can individuals who think or act differently from the majority enhance a team's overall performance? Emphasize that diverse teams often achieve results that exceed the combined efforts of individual members, a fact supported by extensive research.

Information

Delivered
Fully remote/virtual activity
Available
To all subscribers
Activity created
2021-03-24
Average duration
60 mins
Participants
2 - 20

I used the activity for a leadership training and in the context to leading without authority. The seasoned managers loved the tool and the learning experience. I can recommend it for team building, communication, leadership trainings. It can be adapted to fit many purposes.

Mala
Systemischer Coach/Systemic Coach

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