What Is a Wildstorm?
Answer:
Wildstorms are an amazing way for a group to learn about possible solutions to
tough problems while having fun! It builds teams while producing results.
History
and Background
·
Wildstorming
is the radical cousin of traditional brainstorming, as it turns the process
upside-down and inside-out, where strange and bizarre concepts are the rule.
·
During
a wildstorm session, team members suggest absolutely crazy solutions to
the core issue which is being examined. Wildstorms are a great place to ponder
ideas that are true overkill or prohibitively expensive. Wildstorm answers
can deny physics and logic; they can be weird, fanciful, or even
illegal. In fact, they can be impossible! The main rule for a successful
wildstorm is that the ideas should be anything but practical.
·
Wildstorming
was developed by productivity expert Thom Quinn in 2005 to enhance team
creativity.
The Payoff?
- Wildstorming is both an ‘ice breaker’ for thinking about a
problem as well as an exercise for looking at a particular issue from a
wide-variety of angles, especially non-traditional ones.
- The remedies discovered during a wildstorming session themselves would probably never
be implemented; nevertheless, wildstorms do lead
to creative insights on the causes and effects of the core problem. The
end result is novel breakthrough solutions.
How It
works!
Although wildstorms by themselves can lead
the discovery of a novel answer itself, the following three-day
process is recommended for the full impact.
- Day 1: The method is explained to the wildstorm
team, the problem is presented, and a 30-minute Wildstorming session
occurs. Every idea suggested, regardless how silly, is recorded by the
scribe.
- Day 2: This is the ‘share and rest’ day. The
entire list of results from Wildstorm are
distributed to the entire team for review and deep reflection
overnight.
- Day 3: The same team is re-assembled to have a traditional brainstorm on the exact
same problem. This second session will have the new goal of trying to
generate a brand new pool of ideas that could be translated into
real-world solutions. You will be pleased by the results of following this
entire three-day process. Do not be surprised if bits and pieces of
formerly crazy ideas from the wildstorm session
are recycled to form novel, workable, and superior solutions.
Wildstorming Guidelines
- Structure: The team must appoint both a “Leader” and a
“Scribe”. The leader will introduce the problem and make sure everyone
participates. The scribe will record every idea mentioned during the
session on a public whitespace (flip chart, paper) that everyone can see.
- Time: The best wildstorms are no longer than 30
minutes. The leader will watch the clock.
- Size: An ideal wildstorm team would have between 5
and 15 members. The more diverse a team, the more likely you’ll have a
great flow of ideas.
- Culture: Be respectful of everyone! Kindness is always
more likely to lead to creative thoughts than anger.
- Commentary: Do not criticize or judge any ideas during the
process. Assume all of the proposed
concepts have equal value.
- Target: All ideas are welcome, as long as they are not
practical. Crazy ideas are the goal of this process. Bend your mind around
the problem! Consider how cartoon characters, cavemen, or aliens might
solve the problem. Be creative! The goal is to collect as many
unconventional thoughts as possible.
- Synergy: Do build on each other’s ideas. You are a
team! Feel free to remix concepts on the fly.
- Spontaneity: Do not discuss an idea with others before
sharing them outloud. Just blurt your thoughts out. Analyzing ideas will
take place much later in the process.
- Smile: Laughter is encouraged. Enjoy yourself!
The Bottom
Line: Wildstorming is play that leads to true breakthroughs, enhanced
productivity, and better teams.
If you would like to learn more about wildstorming or other productivity
solutions, please email Thom Quinn or
view his daily blog at The QLog