If you have an apple and I have an apple, and we swap apples we each still only have one apple… But if you have an idea and I have an idea, and we swap ideas, we each now have two ideas!
In another post I discussed how we can all use design thinking as a creative solution-driven approach to problem-solving, which puts customers first. I thought it would be useful to follow that up with a couple of key design thinking methods…
Divergent thinking & convergent thinking
Divergent thinking is a method of generating lots of different ideas and potential solutions to a problem early on in the process.
Convergent thinking concentrates on finding the "correct" solution to the given problem.
Design thinking uses divergent thinking as a way to initially explore as many potential solutions as possible and then convergent thinking to narrow them down to a final solution. You may have used this method during group brainstorming sessions where everyone generates lots of ideas, which are whittled down to the best and/or most practical.
Co-design or co-creation
Co-design is a form of design thinking where people from different parts of a business come together to share knowledge and generate ideas. This diversity of experience and mind-set means that everyone brings a different perspective to the table, resulting in more innovative solutions.
So how can we build design thinking into our everyday roles?
Empathise with our customers
Whereas sympathy is recognising and responding to someone’s emotional state, empathy is the ability to put ourselves into someone else’s shoes in order to understand the cause of an emotion and then develop solutions to prevent problems arising in the first place.
Co-create with colleagues who share your passion
Informal collaboration with groups of colleagues from a variety of departments will not only help us get a greater holistic understanding of each other’s roles but also how we all interact with customers, to work together to put the customer at the centre of the picture.
Generate lots of ideas and test them quickly
It’s very tempting when we’re all feeling time-pressured to rush to find an immediately workable solution, even if it’s only temporary. However, by taking time to generate multiple ideas, explore and test different options, we’re more likely to find a robust long-term solution.
But, it’s no use just talking about it. The best way to embed design thinking into what you do is to crack on and give it a go. Make the effort to regularly collaborate with other teams throughout your business and you’ll quickly see how ready others are to be more involved, and together you will produce better solutions.
Comments