Definition of Brainstorming as defined by online dictionary (www.dictionary.com) is “a conference technique of solving specific problems, amassing information, stimulating creative thinking, developing new ideas, etc., by unrestrained and spontaneous participation in discussion”.
As per the definition, there are some basic essentials for brainstorming . Fist and the foremost is that there has to be a collection of brains in action. Secondly, it is done through participation in discussion.
Now, let us think of Daniel Defoe’s ‘Robinson Crusoe’ stranded all alone in an alien tropical Island in Venezuela, not knowing where he is and more importantly, what his future is. He tries his best to make way out of the island to civilization, but does not succeed. Imagine, he had a large bunch of friends, with different experiences, intelligence levels and perceptions in the island. He would have called them up for a meeting and brainstormed for ideas to get away into civilization. In the absence of this luxury, he spent 28 long years in the remote island struggling for existence, before finally being rescued.
Imagine, had he been able to understand his brain and the thinking process. Crusoe would have compartmentalized his brain into silos. A first person that Robinson Crusoe is, a second person who is an expert with islands and water and a third person who has been thorough similar anxious moments. He could have come up with distinct set of ideas from all these characters that he has turned into, debated with ‘himself’, and found out a set of possible escape ideas. All this would have happened in only couple of hours of “independent individual brainstorming”.
How is this idea? Now the question is;
- Will someone ever be able to get into 3 different characters (or will (s)he be perceived to have mental disorder characterized by symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, that indicate impaired contact with reality)?
- Can one ever play a ‘role-play’ where you are enacting 3 distinct yet complementary characters?
- Can one ever forget himself and be objective?
If the answer to these questions is positive, yes, we could see a difference in the way decisions come out of individuals. Creativity will hit new heights; as the number of brains involved in a decision will be a multiple of number of people involved in that decision.
Awaiting your thoughts on this ‘lateral concept’ J
