How can you use role-playing to generate new perspectives during ideation?

Assign team members diverse roles, from client personas to competitors, refining campaigns and staying ahead. Explore customer journeys, pitch scenarios, and brand messaging through role-play, optimizing strategies and enhancing pitch effectiveness. Use this approach to simulate challenges, stimulate creative solutions, and foster problem-solving skills. Organize interactive workshops to cultivate a dynamic and collaborative ideation environment. This not only generates innovative strategies but also hones adaptability skills crucial in the evolving marketing landscape. Ultimately, role-playing enhances team creativity, client relationships, and campaign effectiveness.

David Foster Wallace, the inimitable American writer, tells a story of these two fish swimming in the ocean on a beautiful day and an older fish swimming in the other direction says "Her fellas water sure is nice today!" The two fish nod politely, swim on and one the the fish turns to the other and asks "What the hell is water?" Anytime you can find a way to gather a fresh perspective and see what's invisible to others you gain an edge. There are a lot of smart people out there. There are a lot of hard working people out there. Bu there aren't many people who can see the water. Open your eyes, see things from different perspectives and if you can see something invisible, you've got vision

Certainly! Using this technique for ideation not only taps into creativity but also allows a deep exploration of diverse perspectives, enhancing the understanding of your audience's needs and challenges. This dynamic approach allows innovative thinking, making it a valuable tool in the realm of strategizing and execution of the process with a better understanding of what it feels to be in other person’s shoes.

Role play is key to ideation/Brain storming. Helps think outside the box, opinions of how others sees the problem at hand. Start by playing the Client (one from the 80%, one from the 20%). Then playing the competitors (oldest, closest, new comer). Then open up...: a Tibetan monk, a nuclear physicist, a rebel soldier, Mr E Musk, the Pope. Any idea, as incoherent as it may, will tilt a better one with someone else, until you get a productive solution.

Step outside of one's own perspective and assume the role of someone else… By doing so, you can gain new insights or a fresh approach to a problem or idea. In the context of ideation, role-playing can help generate innovative solutions by allowing team members to approach a problem from different angles and perspectives :)

When you’re concepting, sometimes you can get brain lock because you’re too focused on ideation. Role playing actually frees your mind and getting into character unshackles your constraints. Thinking great thoughts is fun- and role playing introduces a gamification aspect. Then, before you realize it, you’ve come up with something extraordinary because you were having fun and just “ getting into it”.

Integrating role-playing with 'genchi genbutsu' in ideation complements the benefits of traditional role-playing methods. While role-playing facilitates empathy and insight into audience preferences, 'genchi genbutsu' adds a layer of authenticity. By physically immersing yourself in the context and aligning role-playing scenarios with specific customer needs, you go beyond assumptions. This customer-centric approach enhances the effectiveness of idea testing and validation. The fusion of role-playing and 'genchi genbutsu' not only stimulates creativity but also grounds ideas in the real-world, fostering a deeper understanding of what customers truly value and expect.

Ideation thrives on diversity of thought, and role-playing is the gateway to a multitude of perspectives. By embodying different roles, we break free from our habitual thinking patterns, fostering an environment where fresh and unexpected ideas can flourish. It's the magic wand that transforms brainstorming into a vibrant carnival of creativity.

During an Ideation session, everyone enters the room playing the role they play all day—themselves as...whatever the job title is, etc. Their thinking and subsequent contribution are biased by this predetermined role POV. Often unconsciously. Using role play to switch everyone up and get them out of themselves is valuable. "You're a new parent and your child won't stop crying, you're exhausted, money's tights and you just walked into a Walmart, what do you want to see?" You'll still get their biases but now filter through a layer of another role's POV.

Be someone else! Rollenspiele zur Ideenfindung erm?glichen kreatives Denken, f?rdern Teamarbeit und verbessern die Kommunikation. So entstehen Perspektivwechsel. Allerdings sollte man auch hier immer achtsam und empathisch mit den Teilnehmer:innen umgehen, denn besonders Introvertierte k?nnen sich unwohl fühlen - was die authentische Umsetzung nicht f?rdert. Ein ausgewogenes Ma? und klare Ziele sind entscheidend für den Erfolg solcher übungen.

In my experience, successfully leveraging role-playing for ideation requires a methodical approach. Start by clearly defining the topic and goals, ensuring a focused direction. Choose roles and scenarios thoughtfully, considering the specific problem or opportunity at hand. In preparing materials and settings, tailor them to enhance the immersive experience. During sessions, pay attention to the nuances how you initiate and conclude, transition between roles, and interact with props. Incorporate improvisation for spontaneity. Post-session, reflecting on what worked and areas for improvement is crucial for refining the process. This personalized, iterative approach has proven effective in enhancing creativity and idea generation

→ Another thing to consider when using role-playing for ideation is to involve a diverse range of team members and perspectives. ? This can ensure that the ideas generated are not limited by personal biases or experiences. ???? It may also be helpful to establish some guidelines for the role-playing scenarios, such as setting a specific time frame or focusing on certain aspects of the problem or opportunity.

What I absolutely love is to use objects that represent different players or themes related to the question you want to get clarity on. And to let the process unfold intuitively without too many restraining frames. This opens up the space for unexpected solutions or insights. For instance the question is: How to create a new product that better serves my clients needs? Place objects on a table that represent: - your business - the purpose of your business - your target audience - the new product - three objects that represent something unknown Ask every participant in the meeting: what do you observe? What is the distance between the objects? Which object requires most attention? The BROESLI Blocks are an excellent tool for this.

Simply looking at the problem through someone else's eyes can unlock magic. Best to choose from are people or brands with a strong POV. How would Steve Jobs design it? What would Patagonia create? How would Aesop craft the experience? The power is transporting you outside the confines of your own mind, and projecting through the lens of others.

It’s important to also think proactively. When you’re stepping into this role, anticipate. If you’re pretending to be a customer, anticipate: What questions may this person ask? What rebuttles may they have? Based on market research, what’s most important to them?

Para mí el principal consejo, es crear el espacio de confianza. Hacer que la gente comprenda el potencial de la herramienta y suspenda el juicio. Y luego practicar, practicar y practicar. Sin tener expectativas. La creatividad es un proceso no lineal. Aceptarlo es un boost para sacarle el máximo partido a cualquier herramienta.

Within my workshops, I frequently engage in an exercise known as ALTER EGO. In this activity, participants are tasked with envisioning random famous individuals, ranging from historical figures to musicians and politicians, as the newly appointed creative directors of the company. The challenge involves responding to the given brief through the unique perspective of one of these selected creative directors. For instance, participants might consider how someone like Lady Gaga would approach the brief. I typically recommend choosing well-known figures, including some who might evoke polarizing opinions, as this tends to generate more controversial and, often, highly effective ideas.

L’empathie est la qualité la plus importante pour trouver une idée. Mais le plus important est de toujours avoir une idée qui répond au brief final tout est sortant suffisamment des cases (out of the box) pour se faire remarquer

Uma estratégia interessante para refinamento de ideias é o papel do pessimista e otimista do projeto. Onde um sempre irá defender e o outro sempre provocar. Tive boas experiências em Hackathons utilizando essa estratégia.

Utilizing role-playing during ideation is akin to wearing different thinking hats, a concept popularized by Edward De Bono. Each role represents a unique perspective, allowing individuals to explore challenges from various angles. This approach, much like the Six Thinking Hats, enhances creativity, fosters empathy, and brings innovative problem-solving to the forefront

Your team members might be good at playing one role better than the other, and there's usually no way of knowing that from the start. The six thinking hats (Edward de Bono) model always helps kickstart things. Read up more on how to use the model effectively.

It is important during this phase of ideation, that the ground rules in workshop are clear: 1. All editors are left outside the room. This includes the mental editors we have in our head judging our ideas 2. Everyone responds with "Yes, and..." to stack ideas in an embracing way 3. There are plenty of snacks, paper, post-its, pens and toys so that play and imagination have tools for easy expression

In my experience, role-playing can be a highly effective methodology in team dynamics and professional development. One crucial aspect of this approach is identifying the 'right enemy' for the character you've chosen to portray. This process isn't just about opposition for the sake of conflict; rather, it's about understanding the nuances and motivations of your character by examining their contrasts and interactions with a diametrically opposed figure.

In my experience, role-playing has been a catalyst for breakthroughs, injecting a spirit of playfulness and innovation into ideation. It's not just a tool; it's an invitation to step into the shoes of possibilities, unraveling a tapestry of ideas that might otherwise remain hidden. While role-playing injects dynamism into ideation, it's vital to recognize its limitations. Not every challenge requires this approach, and gauging the appropriateness is crucial. Additionally, debriefing after the role-playing session is essential. Discussing the insights gained ensures that the diverse perspectives garnered translate into actionable ideas.

Creo que en las organizaciones se deberían dar más clases de teatro, o de disciplinas artísticas. Uno de los motivos por los que la creatividad no fluye, es porque le damos más importancia a la herramienta que al mindset.