An Aside on Creative Thinking

In my last post, I began describing a technique that is based on the military estimate or appreciation process for developing strategy and operational plans.

In a nutshell, when faced with any series of alternative actions that you or the opposition may take, you should look at three key alternatives: The worst thing that the opponent (or you) could do, the best thing that they could do, and the most probable thing they could do.

This is a classic method of forcing people to "think outside the box". How many business people really consider the worst thing that could happen while they are planning? How many of them account for that eventuality in their plans? I've been in many too many meetings where the dissenting voice is quickly pushed aside with a terse "that won't ever happen" when there are real possibilities lurking the act of just thinking "what if".

So, when faced with alternative actions, force yourself to think of at least three alternatives, and make one of them the worst alternative for you. If your plans protect against that, you can at least be assured you won't be defeated outright.