Can laughing at our problems actually help us solve them?
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This was the session I ran at Agile 2012 on the Coaching & Mentoring stage. The workshop format helped the attendees understand and experience how laughter and humor can actually stimulate the brain and make you more creative.
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Can laughing at our problems actually help us solve them?
- 1. Can laughing at our problems actually help us solve them? @PaulKGoddard, Agile Coach (GBR) 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 2. How creative are you feeling right now? 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 3. Creativity @ 9:00am 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 4. Runaway Train • Train is carrying 250 tonnes of highly toxic gaseous chemicals • Train throttle is jammed at 120 mph • Train cannot turn corners safely • Track runs out in 2 hours at a major city station • It will take engineers 3 hours to fix the throttle • Find a way to mitigate disaster and minimise casualties 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 5. 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard “The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them” "If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."
- 6. Reframing = Humour = Creativity Steve Andreas, NLP Author & Trainer 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 7. 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 8. What would Wile E Coyote do? 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 9. What would Dr. Evil do? 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 10. Six Thinking Hats (de Bono) 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard Information Emotions Planning Discernment Creativity Optimistic
- 11. Six Thinking Hats (de Bono) 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 12. “How is this exercise useful to a coach?” 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 13. 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 14. 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 15. Collaboration + Humour = Creativity Paul Goddard 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 16. “offers are the basic unit of currency for improv” Neil Mullarkey 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 17. Delight An Improv Game 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 18. Delight WHAT? SO WHAT? NOW WHAT? 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 19. Delight 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 20. One Word Story An Improv Game 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 21. One Word Story WHAT? SO WHAT? NOW WHAT? 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 22. Questions only ? An Improv Game 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 23. Questions Only ? WHAT? SO WHAT? NOW WHAT? 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 24. Three Headed Expert An Improv Game 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 25. Three Headed Expert WHAT? SO WHAT? NOW WHAT? 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 26. Creativity @ 10:30am 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
- 27. Thank you for playing… …and please remember your feedback forms! 8/31/2021 10:49:34 AM @PaulKGoddard
Editor's Notes
- In every joke or cartoon, there is a “set-up” in which an ordinary and easily understood narrative is created, along with a certain meaning. Then the “punch line” completely changes this, and our response is to smile or laugh as we embrace a new — and usually unexpected — meaning. Here is my current favorite example: “What do you want people to say about you at your funeral?” Most of us immediately begin to consider the possible accolades, and which we’d most like to have said of us: “He was a great guy, she was so generous and kind, he was sensitive and empathic, she contributed to the neighborhood, etc.” So the answer takes us by surprise: “Look! He’s moving!” What makes this joke funny is that we begin with the assumption that we have actually died. But when we hear the punch line, our images, understanding, and meaning change completely; the implication of “moving” means that you are alive, replacing the presupposition that you are dead. Every joke, and every other kind of humor involves some kind of shift in perspective that changes your images; when your images change, often your understandings and meanings also change. This is exactly the kind of change that occurs when someone resolves a problem, whether it is a personal one, or one in science or art.
- In every joke or cartoon, there is a “set-up” in which an ordinary and easily understood narrative is created, along with a certain meaning. Then the “punch line” completely changes this, and our response is to smile or laugh as we embrace a new — and usually unexpected — meaning. Here is my current favorite example: “What do you want people to say about you at your funeral?” Most of us immediately begin to consider the possible accolades, and which we’d most like to have said of us: “He was a great guy, she was so generous and kind, he was sensitive and empathic, she contributed to the neighborhood, etc.” So the answer takes us by surprise: “Look! He’s moving!” What makes this joke funny is that we begin with the assumption that we have actually died. But when we hear the punch line, our images, understanding, and meaning change completely; the implication of “moving” means that you are alive, replacing the presupposition that you are dead. Every joke, and every other kind of humor involves some kind of shift in perspective that changes your images; when your images change, often your understandings and meanings also change. This is exactly the kind of change that occurs when someone resolves a problem, whether it is a personal one, or one in science or art.
- “The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them” "If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it." - Albert Einstein Albert Einstein
- Reframes the problem. 5 mins in teams. Go.
- Reverse brainstorming
- Information: (White) - considering purely what information is available, what are the facts? Emotions (Red) - intuitive or instinctive gut reactions or statements of emotional feeling (but not any justification) Let it crash, get people off the train, evacuate the train. Discernment (Black) - logic applied to identifying reasons to be cautious and conservative Might only have one shot, we have to get it right. Risk of collateral damage, exploring consequences Optimistic response (Yellow) - logic applied to identifying benefits, seeking harmony Creativity (Green) - statements of provocation and investigation, seeing where a thought goes
- Information: (White) - considering purely what information is available, what are the facts? Emotions (Red) - intuitive or instinctive gut reactions or statements of emotional feeling (but not any justification) Discernment (Black) - logic applied to identifying reasons to be cautious and conservative Optimistic response (Yellow) - logic applied to identifying benefits, seeking harmony Creativity (Green) - statements of provocation and investigation, seeing where a thought goes Using a variety of approaches within thinking and problem solving allows the issue to be addressed from a variety of angles, thus servicing the needs of all individuals concerned. The thinking hats are useful for learners as they illustrate the need for individuals to address problems from a variety of different angles. They also aid learners as they allow the individual to recognize any deficiencies in the way that they approach problem solving, thus allowing them to rectify such issues. De Bono believed that the key to a successful use of the Six Think Hats methodology was the deliberate focusing of the discussion on a particular approach as needed during the meeting or collaboration session. For instance, a meeting may be called to review a particular problem and to develop a solution for the problem. The Six Thinking Hats method could then be used in a sequence to first of all explore the problem, then develop a set of solutions, and to finally choose a solution through critical examination of the solution set. So the meeting may start with everyone assuming the Blue hat to discuss how the meeting will be conducted and to develop the goals and objectives. The discussion may then move to Red hat thinking in order to collect opinions and reactions to the problem. This phase may also be used to develop constraints for the actual solution such as who will be affected by the problem and/or solutions. Next the discussion may move to the (Yellow then) Green hat in order to generate ideas and possible solutions. Next the discussion may move between White hat thinking as part of developing information and Black hat thinking to develop criticisms of the solution set. Because everyone is focused on a particular approach at any one time, the group tends to be more collaborative than if one person is reacting emotionally (Red hat) while another person is trying to be objective (White hat) and still another person is being critical of the points which emerge from the discussion (Black hat).
- Explain the theory of an “offer” Do the offer game, with a volunteer, then in pairs, then debrief.
- Explain the theory of an “offer” Do the offer game, with a volunteer, then in pairs, then debrief.
- Do some one word storytelling? With 3-5 on stage. Then in groups of 3-4 on tables. Then debrief. What did this prove? What makes it flow?
- In every joke or cartoon, there is a “set-up” in which an ordinary and easily understood narrative is created, along with a certain meaning. Then the “punch line” completely changes this, and our response is to smile or laugh as we embrace a new — and usually unexpected — meaning. Here is my current favorite example: “What do you want people to say about you at your funeral?” Most of us immediately begin to consider the possible accolades, and which we’d most like to have said of us: “He was a great guy, she was so generous and kind, he was sensitive and empathic, she contributed to the neighborhood, etc.” So the answer takes us by surprise: “Look! He’s moving!” What makes this joke funny is that we begin with the assumption that we have actually died. But when we hear the punch line, our images, understanding, and meaning change completely; the implication of “moving” means that you are alive, replacing the presupposition that you are dead. Every joke, and every other kind of humor involves some kind of shift in perspective that changes your images; when your images change, often your understandings and meanings also change. This is exactly the kind of change that occurs when someone resolves a problem, whether it is a personal one, or one in science or art.