Mona Patel, Author at The Jane Group

How to stop “can’t” thinking

leaps of imagination

How do you define imagination? To me, it’s the first step in bridging the problems we face and their solutions.

Imagine working on an app that would help users get out of debt because they’re making better informed financial decisions.

Imagine using technology that allows patients and their doctors to better manage their health.

Imagine creating a better umbrella all because you were stuck in the rain with a crappy one.

Problems are often the spark for developing innovative and creative solutions that improve the quality of life for everyone.

There’s a problem, however, that can hobble problem-solving. What it is? The “I can’t” mindset, which we all suffer to a greater or lesser extent. “I can’t” is often the hurdle that separates problem recognition and imagination. However, if we can get past “I can’t,” we enable wonder, curiosity, creativity and, sometimes, groundbreaking innovation.

4 ways to let go of “I can’t” thinking

The “I can’t” mindset is a hurdle we all can cross if we’re willing. Here’s four ways to shift your thinking.

Believe you can and then ask “why”.

If you believe you’re creative, that’s good because you’re going to need that creativity in learning to trust yourself. If that’s too big a leap, then start with trusting in a process that begins with “Why?”

If you’re stuck in the “I can’t” mindset, attack it with “Why?” Ask yourself, why do I feel stuck? Beginning with “why” can aid you in discovering the root cause of an issue. Why liberates your mindset because you put the factor that’s causing the self-doubt into perspective, which enables you to move on.

He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how. ~Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher

Shift the way you see “The Problem.”

We usually perceive problems to be bigger than they really are, a reality that causes intimidation and avoidance. Learn to be sensitive to feeling intimidation, and train yourself to see problems as an invitation or challenge. Train yourself to keep asking questions. See problems as an opportunity to change your mind about what you think is possible.

Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. ~James Baldwin, novelist and social critic

Ask “What if?”

There is a technique to asking “What if” properly.

Creativity is like a muscle that needs a workout routine. Start your workout with a silent warm-up ideation round of three minutes in which you write down as many “What if?” or open-ended questions as you can.

Now follow with by a round of team sharing in which each person takes a turn sharing their “what if” questions. Participants come up with ideas and solutions to the “what if” questions they hear and write them down. Repeat three times.

I advocate for written ideas so louder and more vocal people don’t have an advantage. A necessary ground rule for the sharing process is positivity. Show support for good ideas. Keep the vibe open and friendly with positive, affirming language.

Imagination is more important that knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. ~Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist

Manage the creative momentum.

While collective brainstorming and discussion can be fun while producing group bonding, there’s a more important takeaway, and that’s helping participants get out of their own way. They learn to grab and then distill the best ideas that are out there. Having too many ideas can be its own problem, so it’s important to determine the best ones.

The power of imagination created the illusion that my vision went much farther than the naked eye could actually see. ~Nelson Mandela, political leader and philanthropist

Embrace the power of imagination

By now, “I can’t” looks pretty ridiculous and unnecessary as an approach to problem-solving, doesn’t it?

Learning to not let an “I can’t” mentality stump you yields not only creative solutions for a single problem, but it also provides a general principle about using your imagination with which to address all problems … or, rather, opportunities.

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Today’s guest contributor is Mona Patel, CEO and Founder of Motivate Design, a user-centered design agency based in New York City. In addition to helping clients and other Fortune 500 companies feel unstuck, Mona is also a teacher at Parsons School of Design.

Image credit before quote added: Pixabay

How to get off of mental autopilot

by Mona Patel | Workplace tips

work your idea

As humans, we tend to let ourselves fall into familiar routines, especially when we’re working.

Any sequence of mental action which has been frequently repeated tends to perpetuate itself. ~William James, philosopher

I’ve seen many shades of the autopilot work mentality, which can range from severe creative block to not realizing you have a problem. Regardless of which end of the continuum you occupy, it’s worth your time to ask if whether there’s a better way.

To help you reframe how you work, innovate, and think, I offer four steps to help you rethink what you’re doing.

4 steps to get off mental autopilot

Step 1: If you’re stuck or not sure, ask “What if?”

Ask yourself: Am I treading water? What work goals haven’t I achieved? Can I imagine a new way of achieving those goals?

If you answered “no” or “I can’t,” then it’s time for you to reframe how you think. Telling yourself “I can’t” predetermines unaccomplished goals. Counter-balance that negative responsive by repeated asking “What if…?” That’s the first step to opening the door of possibility.

Step 2: Start making the “What ifs?” real with your work team.

Schedule a meeting and start it with a silent warm-up ideation period of three minutes. Write down all the “What if” ideas that surface in the three minutes.

Don’t worry about people coming up with the same idea at the same time. Just write them down and keep the creativity flowing.

If you and your team need more ideas, repeat the process.

Step 3: Follow good response practices when ideas are shared.

Tell your work team members to say “plus one” if they have an idea that’s like one that someone else has suggested. This streamlines the process and strengthens bonds between those with similar ideas.

Saying “Plus love” is a good way to express that you wish you came up with the idea. Hearing “plus love” on a crazy idea encourages you to come up with more crazy ideas and enables the group to be more creative.

Saying “I’m good” is a positive way of saying “I don’t have any more ideas.”

Step 4: Filter your ideas. How much do you love an idea?

Now’s the time to start sorting all those ideas that have been shared. Ask a few questions to begin the sorting and sifting process: Does the idea solve a real need? Will it save money? Is it feasible?

Next, further whittle down the idea list by asking how easy or difficult an idea would be to execute.

Then move on to consider the “wow” factor, meaning how much the idea would impact someone’s life or how much a client would like it.

New ideas pass through three periods: 1) It can’t be done; 2) It probably can be done, but it’s not worth doing; 3) I knew it was a good idea all along! ~Arthur C. Clarke

Sometimes to get out of the mental autopilot rut, all we have to do is carve out some time so we can discover new ideas for ourselves.

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Today’s guest contributor is Mona Patel, CEO and Founder of Motivate Design, a user-centered design agency based in New York City that helps Fortune 500 clients.

Image credit before quote added: Pixabay