The Difference IS the Difference

What this episode covers

This material comes from a keynote speech given about how it is our differences which will organizationally will be the transformational synergistic difference which will make all the difference ultimately.   I have gathered some lateral thinking puzzles which I will distribute to table as the small group activity (do you have a sense of how many table there would be and how many at each table?) So the goal is either as many potentially feasible answers – or best creative answer.     Example: You are in a room. There are two strings dangling from the ceiling on opposite sides of the room. You need to tie the strings together but there isn’t enough string to walk over holding one and grab the other. However the two strings will meet in the middle. Your tools are a ladder, a pair of plyers, and a box of matches. How will you tie them together? This puzzle has claims to be the best of the genre. It is simple in its statement, absolutely baffling and yet with a completely satisfying solution. Most people struggle very hard to solve this one yet they like the answer when they hear it or have the satisfaction of figuring it out. After the question and answer session I will tell you the typical “answer” and the most creative answer I have heard.     Pre-Speech About Me who I am and why I am qualified to talk to you today   It’s Not about me Story of Beth Thul and how I came to be here. It was her as well as the goodwill love that I have with those in my work relationships which allows me to be here     Show the video Streets Vs Roads Derek Sivers. The goal of working on these lateral thinking puzzles will be divergent thinking. Divergent thinkingis a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. How many different answers could be possibility right OR the most creative answer verses the right one answer in this situation. I have a great example of a best creative answer which always comes from people of different cultures or the best tend to be from folks who are neuro-diverse (people with autism, Aspergers, etc) when I asked them where the top of the world was they said “the Crust” such a great answer!   Then the idea is to pivot to different cultural practices and how they can create new, different, and better thinking. The theme for the keynote will be Our Difference is the Difference.   The goal is next to find some ways in which we all fall into patterns of thinking or operating which keep certain people or ideas on the fringes.   Some examples of these patterns are and happen in:   In hiring more and more HR folks are looking into hiring folks are realizing they need to do so without looking at them. The subtle in-and-out grouping that happens in these spaces over and over again favors one person over another. The pattern here is favoring those identities with which we are most familiar. We are hard wired to favor folks who we can identify with our own in-group – the problem is – those folks think just like we do and we cannot innovate with those we agree with.   Answers like why do you do it this way – Because we have always done it this way. The pattern here is “the” current way is the only way. Its change resistant – it fails to recognize things can get better when change occurs. Continuous Improvement is our goal – leadership is a process not a position.   Managing to the rare exception rather than the common rule. The pattern here is wasting a lot of time on what “could” be rather than what most likely is.   The sad us

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