Overcome “Critical Thinking Bias” and Boost Your Collaborative Capability Donald J. Minnick, Ph.D. Interpersonal Skills Laboratory, LLC

Design for a New Wheelbarrow

The Itemized Response Method of Responding to Ideas “The stupidest Idea I’ve ever heard…” “The greatest Idea I’ve ever heard. I agree 100%....” Our typical “first response” To a new idea X

92% 65%34%12% Most people: uses “GENIUS” level: 200+ uses What happened…??? A Study of “Divergent Thinking” …….

How Critical Are We..? Category of Individual - / + or neutral comments Secondary school teachers 25 / 1 College professors 22 / 1 Mid-level managers 18 / 1

The Itemized Response Method of Responding to Ideas “Stretching for The Pluses” “The stupidest Idea I’ve ever heard…” “The greatest Idea I’ve ever heard. I agree 100%....” Our typical “first response” To a new idea X Sample Lead-Ins: “That’s a terrific thought!” “What I like about your idea is …” “That would be good because …” “What I find especially helpful in what you’re saying is…” Probing for the pluses: “What are your thoughts behind ….? “What are the benefits that you see of … “What would that do for us….?”

The Itemized Response Method of Responding to Ideas “Stretching for The Pluses” “The stupidest Idea I’ve ever heard…” “The greatest Idea I’ve ever heard. I agree 100%....” Our typical “first response” To a new idea X Identifying Your Concerns I DENTIFY Y OUR C ONCERNS ….. invite suggestions to overcome your concerns Sample Lead-Ins: “What I’m concerned about is …” “We have to deal with how to…” “How could we overcome …” “I wish we could also …” “I think we need to further think through this part of things…”

The Itemized Response Method of Responding to Ideas “Stretching for The Pluses” “The stupidest Idea I’ve ever heard…” “The greatest Idea I’ve ever heard. I agree 100%....” Our typical “first response” To a new idea X Identifying Your Concerns “Building” X “Threshold of Acceptability” B UILDING Make the original idea more useful by creatively exploring: Modification; Additions / Expanded Applications Sample Lead-Ins: “Building on your idea, we could…” “Good point and we could also use that to…” “That idea triggered a thought for me. What if we…” “What your idea could do for us is….”

Let’s give it a try……… …..Imagine any problem where there might be some significant value for collaboration…. 1. Gather your own ideas…. Make some notes to yourself about your idea…. 2. Discuss the problem with your group… being careful to use: “Stretching for the Pluses…” “Identifying your concerns…” “Building…” 3. After you’ve had some time to “solve” the problem….. we’ll hear some report outs and compare notes on our solutions….

Design for a New Wheelbarrow

Good for going over rough terrain – bottom won’t drag Can rig a trap door, drive right over the hole and fill it without having to dump it over Make wheel rotate….easier to turn Have double wheels (like the back of a tricycle) for stability Have extendable handles and make it also serve as a work-out device (chest and triceps) Example “Builds” on the Wheelbarrow Design…

For organizations: (families, groups, teams, and companies…..) … that want to encourage creativity, innovation and involvement…. Eliciting what is “desirable” – CONTRIBUTING …. and capturing what is “desired” – THE QUALITY IDEA …. Sometimes it really is as simple as “language” …. …….just the way we talk to each other

The Itemized Response Method of Responding to Ideas “Stretching for The Pluses” “Building” Identifying Your Concerns “The stupidest Idea I’ve ever heard…” “The greatest Idea I’ve ever heard. I agree 100%....” Our typical “first response” To a new idea “Threshold of Acceptability” X X