As children, we set ourselves no limits to our imagination. “What if?” and “why not?” are favourite questions. In our Western education system, we tend to focus on developing left-brain rational, linear thinking, setting objectives and making the reaching of those objectives our only goal. Along the way, many ideas are rejected as not doable, crazy, not our core business etc. In a competitive society where innovation is necessary, we need our right brains capacities of curiosity, experimentation, suspension of judgement, considering the journey as important as the final destination. It should also be FUN. We can then engage our left brains to put our ideas into practice.
In order to stimulate right brain thinking, it is useful to create an atmosphere of play. This can be a permanent “brain-storming” room or a specific, customized workshop. We can also take inspiration from the Google “playground” offices with their toboggans, comfy chairs
Below are some pointers as to how to create such an atmosphere, taken from real situations I facilitated.
