“I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there.” Richard Feynman

At its core, the Feynman Technique boils down to explaining a complex concept or problem to someone who knows nothing about it, typically a child. But don’t underestimate the power of this seemingly simple exercise. By forcing yourself to break down complex ideas into their fundamental components and articulate them in plain English, you unlock a potent problem-solving mindset.

Why is the Feynman Technique so helpful? Here are some key reasons:

1. Clarity Through Simplification: The act of explaining something to a layman forces you to identify the core essence of the issue. You strip away jargon, technicalities, and extraneous details, focusing on the fundamental principles that drive the problem. This process of simplification not only enhances your own understanding but also reveals gaps in your knowledge or inconsistencies in your logic.

2. Identifying Knowledge Gaps: When you try to explain something to someone unfamiliar with the topic, you often stumble upon areas where your own understanding is shaky. The Feynman Technique acts as a diagnostic tool, highlighting areas where you need to do further research or consult with others. This self-awareness is crucial for effective problem-solving, as it allows you to address gaps in your knowledge base before forging ahead.

3. Active Learning and Retention: The act of teaching is a powerful learning tool in itself. By explaining a concept to someone else, you solidify your own understanding and knowledge retention. This active learning process is far more effective than passively reading or listening to information. The Feynman Technique, therefore, turns problem-solving into a process of continuous learning and knowledge refinement.

4. Boosting Creativity and Innovation: Simplifying and explaining complex concepts often leads to unexpected insights and connections. By forcing yourself to think from a different perspective and articulate your ideas in a clear and concise way, you open the door to creative solutions you might have otherwise missed. The Feynman Technique can spark out-of-the-box thinking and lead to innovative approaches to old problems.

5. Enhancing Communication and Collaboration: The ability to explain complex ideas clearly and persuasively is a critical skill for any business professional. The Feynman Technique hones your communication skills, allowing you to present your ideas to colleagues, clients, and stakeholders in a way that is both understandable and engaging. This clarity fosters better collaboration and teamwork, as everyone involved has a shared understanding of the problem and potential solutions.

Putting the Feynman Technique into Practice:

Ready to harness the power of the Feynman Technique for your business? Here’s how:

Step one: explain the problem to a five-year-old. This forces you to confront the gaps in your own understanding and identify the core principles at play. 

Step two: build bridges. Are there analogous situations in history, science, or even pop culture? Think outside the box, folks. 

Step three: simplify and refine. Can you express the core concept in even fewer words? Brevity is your friend here. (See our blog on the one word technique)

Finally, step four: test and iterate. Share your distilled wisdom with others, gather feedback, and refine your understanding. It’s a beautiful feedback loop that leads to breakthrough solutions.

It is a habit-forming practice that can significantly improve your problem-solving skills over time. 

The more you integrate it into your approach, the better equipped you’ll become to tackle any challenge with clarity, creativity, and confidence.

Additional Tips:

• Use diagrams, drawings, or metaphors to simplify complex concepts.
• Ask yourself questions as you explain, like “Why is this important?” or “What are the implications?”
• Don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun with the process!

The beauty of the Feynman Technique is its iterative nature. Each step challenges your understanding, revealing blind spots and pushing you towards a deeper clarity. It’s not about dumbing down, but about building a rock-solid foundation from which creative solutions can blossom.

Check out our blog on the one word technique for a brutal distillation of your challenge, or try out the X Brief, to get your challenge into a short Tweet.

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One of the models that I think best combines many different innovation principles in one place is LEGO’s innovation matrix. The model is explained by David Robertson, in his book “Brick by Brick,” where he provides an in-depth analysis of Lego’s innovation process and how the company has managed to remain relevant and successful for almost 100 years.

The background

Despite being around since 1932, the company has managed to stay relevant and innovative by constantly adapting to changing consumer needs and preferences. I thought I’d share some of the insights from the webinar around how Lego innovates and how the innovation matrix has contributed to their success.

However, even this iconic company has had serious issues when it comes to innovation. LEGO faced serious challenges in the 90s due to the rise of digital play experiences and the expiration of its brick patents, as well as increased competition from other toy companies.

Technology radically disrupted and changed the way we think about play. Despite some ‘fails’ with LEGO heading too far into the realm of digital toys, the company realised that the humble brick itself was integral to the brand.

One of the key ways in which Lego innovates today is through collaboration. The company works closely with its customers, designers, and even competitors to develop new ideas and improve existing products. This approach is exemplified in the Lego Group’s “Open Innovation” program, which allows external partners to submit new ideas for Lego sets and themes.

The LEGO Innovation Matrix

The book introduces the “Lego Innovation Matrix,” as a framework for categorizing new ideas and determining their potential for success.

The matrix includes four quadrants:

1. Core
2. Adjacent
3. Transformational
4. Disruptive

Core innovations are those that build on existing products and processes, while adjacent innovations involve expanding into new markets or product categories. Transformational innovations involve significant changes to existing products or processes, while disruptive innovations create entirely new markets or product categories.

How does the theory hold up in practice?

I was at Waterloo Station in London yesterday and in the run-up to Mother’s Day and I saw this ‘flower stall’ made up entirely of brick ‘flowers’.

Using the LEGO innovation matrix we can assess what kind of innovation this is and where it sits, which I think is really helpful for analysis of different innovations we see all around us, and for thinking about opportunities for our own.

Where do you think the brick flowers sit within the framework?

I see it as an adaptation of the current product, so core, with some new incremental/adjacent innovation with new pieces, and it’s disruptive in terms of a new audience and product category, and a new revenue stream, tapping into adult play and crafting. But with the physical bricks still at it’s core. You can use this to assess anything you like.

By using the matrix, the company is able to prioritize and allocate resources to different types of innovation projects based on their potential impact and feasibility. This approach has allowed LEGO to stay ahead of the curve and continue to innovate in a competitive and rapidly changing market.

One of the key takeaways from the book is the importance of iteration and experimentation in the innovation process. Lego designers and engineers are encouraged to experiment with new ideas and prototypes, even if they are not initially successful.

Where can you build some experimentation into your work?

We can all learn from LEGO’s culture of experimentation and iteration and approach to innovation with this framework. See if you can put it to work today!

We’re obsessed with creativity and innovation here at Now Go Create. Book one of our courses or email me claire@nowgocreate.co.uk for a chat.

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The checklist consists of two sets of questions.

The first will help you get a clearer picture of the problem you’re facing. The second will help you work towards a solution. If you are running a workshop, brainstorm or looking for creative solutions then work through the checklist together or break into smaller groups, or individually and see where they take you.

Each of these questions are related to other creative thinking tools that we train on our courses here at Now Go Create. See our brainstorm workshop notes below alongside some of our favourite questions to spark creative thinking.

THE PROBLEM – think of this as the what

THE PLAN – think of this as the how

So that’s how the CIA solves problems – what are your favourite questions? We have several different courses that focus on problem solving including SCAMPER and the VIEW assessment to look at your personal preferences in relation to solving problem.

This is just one of the tools we share as part of our Strategy Ninja and How to be a creative ninja workshops – join us for an open course or an in-house workshop.

Contact claire@nowgocreate.co.uk or call me on 0203 146 5586.

References: Michalko, Michael (June 8, 2006). Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques. Ten Speed Press.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

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And that made me wonder is there ever such a thing as a stupid question? Poet EE Cummings said: “Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question.”

Yet I know that’ I’ve definitely asked something that might sound astoundingly stupid (beyond the classic call to IT, why won’t my computer work? To which we all know the answer…) I’ve often thought that it’s better to be the most curious, interested person in the room rather than sitting there and believing you’re the smartest person. Someone described it to me recently in one of our training sessions as better to be a ‘learn it all’ rather than a ‘know it all’.

And we’ll never learn anything if we’re afraid to ask the question to begin with, whether that’s by researching it or asking someone who might know.

So ‘Ask a Stupid Question Day’ encourages you to overcome your fears and opening yourself to learning by asking your stupidest questions. Asking questions is such an important part of the learning process, and it’s important that we encourage kids to feel comfortable asking any sort of query too.

So today instead of brainstorming, try question-storming and admitting that you might not have the beautiful answer (yet) but you might just have a beautiful question.

“Understanding a question is half an answer” Socrates

The Phoenix checklist is apparently a list of questions developed by the CIA (as you may imagine this is quite hard to verify) to help problem-solve. Here are 10 of our favourites from their list:

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SCAMPER is an acronym for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify/Magnify, Put to other uses, Eliminate and Reverse. It’s provides a framework and stimulates questions and triggers which can be used to help you look at your challenge, work, project or product differently.

I first came across this tool when I began my research into creativity over a decade ago, in Michael Michalko’s brilliant, Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques, and find it really helpful provoke new avenues of thought, both individually and in groups.

When to use it:

The SCAMPER question can trigger modifications of something that already exists, but they can also prove as a springboard to truly fresh thinking. I find that the Substitute and Reverse triggers can be the most helpful to get to breakthrough ideas, whilst the others can build on what exists, to refresh and often generate more incremental-type ideas.

How to use it:

Write the problem statement or challenge you are trying to solve here. In what ways might we…. Also make a list of the components/different aspects of the problem here: this can come in handy when you look through the triggers. Then look through the principles and see what fresh ideas it gives you. Like every creativity tool it might not give you the answer immediately, or even the right answer that meets your criteria, but it will give you new ideas, and hopefully unexpected ones too!

So for example:

Substitute questions

• What perspective that is different from your own that you could substitute?
• What emotion could you substitute?
• What would happen if you ran your activity in another part of the UK or another country or culture?
• Can you substitute any part of the process, or one material for another?

Combine questions

• Generate 5 ideas each – then see what new combinations you can make from mashing them up
• What would be an unusual combination?

Adapt questions

• Could you adapt your work to serve another purpose or use?
• Who or what could you emulate to adapt your work?
• What other products or ideas could you use for inspiration?

Modify questions

• Play with scale – what happens if you make it bigger?
• Or smaller?
• Or faster?
• What can you change?

Put to another use questions

• What can you recycle?
• Can you use your solution somewhere else?
• Who else could benefit from your work?

Eliminate questions

• What elements of your product or project or idea could you eliminate?
• What is superfluous?
• How can you make it more focused or more precise?

Reverse questions

• What if you did the exact opposite of what you’re trying to do now?
• Brainstorm all your assumptions, then reverse them.
• What would happen if you reversed your process or sequence?

You can download a free worksheet SCAMPER Sheet website.

SCAMPER is just one creativity tool that we teach on our best-selling course, How To Be A Creative Ninja – check it out here or email claire@nowgocreate.co.uk for more info.

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Here are some key points to consider when crafting a problem statement:

1. Be clear and specific: Make sure your problem statement clearly states the problem in a specific and straightforward way. Avoid using vague language and provide enough details for everyone to understand what you’re talking about.

2. Give context: Provide background information to help others understand why the problem matters. Explain the current situation, any gaps or challenges, and the potential consequences if the problem isn’t addressed.

3. Set measurable objectives: Clearly define what you want to achieve by solving the problem. Make sure these objectives are measurable and realistic, so you can evaluate progress effectively.

4. Think about stakeholders: Consider the perspectives and needs of the people affected by or interested in the problem. Understanding their viewpoints will help you frame the problem statement and identify potential solutions.

5. Make it researchable and actionable: Ensure that it’s possible to gather information and data to analyze and propose solutions. Your problem statement should provide a clear direction for taking action.

6. Highlight impact and benefits: Clearly explain the positive outcomes that solving the problem can bring to individuals, organizations, or society as a whole. Showing the significance of resolving the issue will generate support and resources for finding solutions.

Writing a good problem statement is crucial because it lays the foundation for effective problem-solving. It helps everyone focus their efforts, guides research, and provides a framework for evaluating potential solutions. A well-crafted problem statement ensures that everyone understands the problem’s scope and importance, increasing the chances of finding meaningful and sustainable solutions.

I thought I’d share some of the tips on writing a great problem statement from my book In Your Creative Element, where I suggest on how to identify the problem at hand and that can be applied to a diverse range of problems – from ‘I need an idea right now’ to more complex challenges.

Problem finding tool 1:

Generating an effective problem statement (Isaksen et al, 2011)

What is it? A tool from the Creative Problem Solving process to generate useful problem statements and open up ideas. Often a challenge is not written as a question, but as a statement or an objective. For example: stunt ideas to support our World Cup sponsorship or get more ‘likes’ on Facebook. You need to bridge between the client brief and an enticing creative brief. This tool helps to do that and can add specificity, constraints and ambition to your statement.

How to do it: Follow this format to create potential problem statements, informed by data and insight.

Write down your initial problem as you see it, or as per the client brief. Here’s a working example of a challenge that I see every time I take a commuter train. People often fall asleep on the train without having their ticket on display for the guard. How can we make people leave their ticket out?

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Not all problems are created equal, thus not all solutions are equal. A complex problem like global warming doesn’t require the same kind of problem- solving process and tools as how to generate ideas for the latest handset day in, day out. There are thousands of creativity tool options (a simple Amazon search on the subject lists 2,200 titles on the subject) but the killer application is applying the appropriate creativity tool to the appropriate problem.

The post Messy, wicked or tame? What’s your problem? first appeared on Now Go Create.