Many years ago, I volunteered to lead dramas performed at our church. We followed a model promoted by Steve Pedersen at Willow Creek Church near Chicago. He believed church dramas should not be skits. They should be 5-7 minute vignettes of live theatre. The major difference between skits and these vignettes was how they ended. Skits would establish and issue and then resolve it. In real life, challenging issues don’t arise and resolve in 5-7 minutes. To be more realistic, our vignettes would often leave issues unresolved.

But this drove viewers nuts. People would come up to me afterwards to ask for closure.

“Did the couple in the drama end staying together, or did they get a divorce?”

“What happened with that guy’s job?”

“Did the daughter ever forgive her mother for what she did?”

My response often was to let them decide, but they would press for MY answer. I would tell them I didn’t know. We didn’t write a resolution. We left the rest of the story up to the viewer.

The point wasn’t to irritate the audience. The point was to be more realistic, and it let the pastor bring resolution in his message. But it also seemed to open people’s minds. They would consider all kinds of possibilities instead of us telling them what would happen. The same thing happens when we read fiction.

Open-Mindedness and Creativity

Research shows that people who read fiction have a greater tolerance for vagueness. They are more open-minded individuals.

This capacity to leave things unresolved is a factor in creativity because it encourages divergent thinking. Divergent thinking recognizes there are many solutions to most issues. It doesn’t focus on finding the best solution, it helps you open your mind to new and different ideas. This is a critical ingredient for creativity and innovation. You can’t come up with new ideas if you don’t allow for an alternative solution. You will just accept the status quo.

How do you participate in divergent thinking?

Ask, “What if…?”

Whenever someone seems to be sticking to default ideas, you don’t have to tell them they’re wrong. You can simply ask them, “What if we tried something different?” Often, folks will give an excuse why you should stick with the standard solution. You can then ask, “What if another option works? What would that look like?” Make a game out of engaging their imagination. Even if you return to the original idea, you can add insights you gained from considering alternatives. Feel free to ask yourself, “What if…” as well. Don’t be afraid to challenge your own assumptions.

Consider opposites.

If common wisdom says to zig, consider zagging.

What if you outsourced something that historically was performed in-house? What if you managed something internally that was typically outsourced?

What if you leased or rented instead of buying an asset?

What if you partnered with a third party instead of competing with them?

Look at multiple angles.

When you need innovative solutions, realize you default to seeing everything from your vantage point. Consider how others see the issue, especially customers and potential customers when addressing your products or services. Even better, get their feedback directly. It can be just a few questions in a survey that give you insight into options you otherwise would not have considered.

Don’t let lack of resolution drive you nuts. Let it open your mind to new ideas. You have the ability to innovate and create your own ending to any story.