When looking for a solution to a thorny problem, it’s easy to get stuck in conventional wisdom.
We tend to stick to linear thinking and well-worn paths of ideation. We brainstorm, we create long lists of possibilities and then we castoff the least likely ones.
Mickey McManus, AutoDesk research fellow and Chairman of Maya Design, has a powerful methodology for reframing leadership to better enable innovation and discovery. He recommends an exercise of making the leader the sidekick, and subordinates the superheroes. Here are the three main principles as told by Ayse Birsel:
- Be the beginner. A favorite koan from the zen master Shunryu Suzuki says, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” Being the beginner shifts our perspective and opens up our mind to possibilities. As a beginner, you listen more. This type of humility also puts the leader in the right frame of mind of service and support.
- Grant agency. Listening to people, rather than telling them what you think they need to do, gives others agency to investigate, apply their ideas, draw their own conclusions. What are the obstacles standing in the way of your team? Having a bird’s eye view (or in this case, a sidekick’s view) gives you the advantage of seeing roadblocks or challenges, while putting team members in the superhero role makes them agents to solve their own problems.
- Do away with hierarchy. The superhero-sidekick relationship eliminates expected hierarchy. When we allow those at the lowest rung of the career ladder to take on the superhero role, and step back ourselves to learn from them, the best ideas can rise to the top.
Turning things upside down and promoting reverse thinking challenges the status quo and encourages more disruptive ideas.
When we make room for new learning by “being the beginner” we are more likely to experiment, grow and uncover our best ideas.
Have a great week.
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