Comments on: Ponder This: Q&Q

By: Alex Soto

Alex Soto — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 22:46:43 +0000

In the retail design business, creative thinking is an ongoing battle with budget. That is why we involve our staff and clients together to put on a board the most creative thinking ideas from the business side as well as design, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. That may lead to something new and different and so on….
Sometimes the best idea come from outsiders who are not locked into a certain thought pattern. We assemble all of these idea to create the formula for the solution. Creative thinking is developing formulas for new possibilities. It’s an ongoing process.
That is why it is a challenge when you are restricted to deadines and budgets.

By: Michael Wagner

Michael Wagner — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 04:31:39 +0000

I like Roger von Oech’s book: A Whack on the Side of the Head. In it he examines the various barriers to creative thinking one of which is “the right answer”.

Good idea Dustin! Change the pattern with a little Q&Q instead of Q&A!

I would say that organizatioanl cultures that allow for “both/and thinking” rather than always insisting on a right answer and thus an “either/or mindset” are more robust and healthy…even competitive. But you don’t get that if you always insist on an immediate answer to the question at hand.

Children enter school as question marks and come out as periods. Neil Postman, Educator

Thanks for the post!

By: DUST!N

DUST!N — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 23:15:11 +0000

Ah, reflection is like fine china.

So many of us have it, but we rarely pull it out and use it. We save it for a special occasion that never comes.

You’re right Brad. Asking why we do something after we do it can lead to learning.

Also, the whole answer questions with more questions tactic has been used for thousands of years. There was this Jewish carpenter guy. He did pretty well with it. I heard he was a whale of a speaker to boot!

By: Brad Respess

Brad Respess — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:15:59 +0000

Interesting post-questions with more questions… What if we simply answered a question with an answer and a question. Another twist-when asked to do something, shouldn’t we do first and then ask why to learn why we did it? You bring to light that which is so common to us…going for the easy way out. The easy way might be right, but usually we miss the richer rewards of not allowing only that answer.

Wish it were a casual Friday!