The document discusses psychological experiments that show how the human mind limits innovative and creative abilities through cognitive biases like functional fixedness. It provides examples of tests, such as candle, dot and glass problems, to illustrate how preconceived notions prevent people from thinking "outside the box." The document also describes ways to overcome barriers to innovation, such as workshops by Timeo Performance that help companies and individuals cultivate environments for innovative thinking.

1. HOW INNOVATIVE
ARE YOU, REALLY?
By Timeo Performance
www.timeo-performance.com
A series of psychological experiments and tests to show
how our mind tends to limit our innovative and creative abilities
more than we would like to admit.
Recruitment | Training | Business and HR Performance

2. THE
PSYCHOLOGY
OF PROBLEM
SOLVING
THREE problems are
presented in this video:
1. Candle problem
2. Nine dot problem
3. Three glass problem
Try it out:
http://snip.ly/o1xz7t

3. CANDLE
How about using the
matchbox as a
container for the
candle?
How about drawing
beyond the self-
imposed square?
NINE DOT THREE GLASS
How about considering
the empty space to help
with measuring?
DID YOU THINK OF THAT?

4. DID YOU
THINK OF
THAT?
Looking for the solution can be
quite hard
But these experiments tell us about:
- Perspective. How seeing from another point
can get us to that point of illumination (Aha!)
- Our preconceived notions and the benefit of
thinking "out of the box" (literally)
- Seeing empty space as possibility and not just
something invisible/ to be ignored

5. BARRIERS TO
INNOVATION
1. Functional fixedness
2. Focus on product, miss out on problem
3. Linear thinking
4. Not asking questions
5. Creating fear of failure

6. CAN YOU TIE
THE TWO ROPES
TOGETHER?
It's not as easy as it seems
A chair, a paint bucket, a plier and two ropes
hanging from two poles.. How do you tie two
ends of the rope together?
Try it out:
http://snip.ly/kw401g

7. ONE USE OF
THE PENCIL
What can a pencil be used for?
Participants were asked to find ONE way in
which they could physically use the pencil. Some
were given the pencil along with a notebook.
There were more people who used the pencil
primarily as a writing instrument when given the
notebook as compared to being given the pencil
alone.
Try it out:
http://snip.ly/cynmtk

8. What exactly is functional fixedness?
And, is there a way to overcome it?
FUNCTIONAL FIXEDNESS
WE ARE ALL SUBJECT TO

9. Functional fixedness is a
cognitive bias that limits a person to
use an object only in the way
it is traditionally used.
This "block" limits the ability of an individual to use components given to
them to complete a task, as they cannot move past the original purpose
of those components.
For example, if someone needs a paperweight, but they only have a
hammer, they may not see how the hammer can be used as a
paperweight. Functional fixedness is this inability to see a hammer's use
as anything other than for pounding nails; the person couldn't think to
use the hammer in a way other than in its conventional function.
DEFINITION

10. There are multiple techniques, of which
include: the generic parts technique,
uncommitting, overcoming prototypes,
analogical transfer etc.
Timeo Performance's Innovation training methodology has been
developed to help corporations, professionals and individuals overcome
cognitive biases as such and to cultivate an environment for innovation.
In fact, some of the prototypes and ideas generated during our
workshops have gone on to be implemented in our client's companies
and have won awards.
Find out more here:
CAN WE OVERCOME IT?
http://timeo-performance.com/public-course.php?id=38

11. MORE TESTS;
TEST YOUR AWARENESS!
How many passes did
the team in white make?
Try it out:
http://snip.ly/55ke6w
Who killed Lord Smithe?
Try it out:
http://snip.ly/b7mubj

12. TEST YOUR AWARENESS!
Spot the difference!
Try it out:
http://snip.ly/r5gtt1
Spot the difference II!
Try it out:
http://snip.ly/12qykt

13. DID
YOU SEE
THAT?
It's easy to miss out what we are
not looking for.
It shows that when we are pre-programmed to
focus on one action, we blend out obvious things
happening around us.
When we focus on a
product, we tend to miss
out on the problem.

14. INNOVATION
J O I N U S : P U B L I C C O U R S E
1 1 S E P T / 9 A M T O 1 2 . 3 0 P M
T I M E O P E R F O R M A N C E
1 5 0 C E C I L S T R E E T , # 1 5 - 0 1
S I N G A P O R E 0 6 9 5 4 3
L E A R N M O R E S T R A T E G I E S O N
http://www.
timeo-
performance.
com

15. OTHER UPCOMING
PUBLIC COURSES
P u b l i c c o u r s e s a r e h e l d a t :
T I M E O P E R F O R M A N C E
1 5 0 C e c i l S t r e e t , # 1 5 - 0 1
S i n g a p o r e 0 6 9 5 4 3
1. Train-the-Trainer for Non-Trainers
2. Communicate With Impact Across Cultures
3. Female Leadership: Grow your Influence and Impact as a Female Leader
3 Aug 2018, Full Day
7 Aug 2018, Full Day
30 Aug 2018, Full Day

16. FOLLOW US ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay up to date with the latest human resource articles,
trainings and announcements by following us online.
https://www.facebook.com/TimeoPerformance/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/timeo-performance/