Concept development - Idea generation - Ego Alter

Purpose

To help participants step out-of-the-box by visioning solutions through the eyes of a well-known character

Duration

15 - 30 minutes

Instructions

1. Group is broken down into sub-teams of three to five people.
2. Each team is assigned a different well-known character, real or fictional (see examples below). Assume the character is now leading this project.
3. Imagine the team is at some point in the future. The solution they implemented, through the leadership of the character, is extremely successful. The future state includes many of the characteristics of the character. The process for how you got there was also strongly influenced by the character.
4. List how you got there as well as attributes of that future state, including:
   • Process attributes;
   • Technologies used;
   • How people work and work together;
   • Company (or department) culture and values;
   • Etc.

Facilitator Notes

Have the settings, problems and list of leadership figures ready in advance. There are two ways to use this technique:

• As a Visioning technique - pick a figure that you believe embodies the qualities that you wish to emulate. For example, if you want to increase the effectiveness of meetings, you might want to choose someone who is an expert at communication. (e.g. Oprah, Dr. Ruth, your old boss).
• As an Exploring technique - pick a figure at random, or one that seems the antithesis of whom you would first think of for the task. For example, how would Arnold Schwarzenegger or Marcel Marceau make meetings more effective? Have each group share their results with the others. During the debrief, identify ideas that can be practically applied to their current situations (perhaps requiring some modification).

Examples

• Queen Elizabeth I or II;
• Madonna;
• Donald Trump;
• Bill Gates;
• Sigmund Freud;
• Arnold Schwarzenegger;
• Napoleon;
• George Jetson;
• Albert Einstein;
• Your favorite teacher;
• Gloria Steinem.