Try This News Paper Test

Here is a simple test I ask managers to try.

Step 1

Write down as many different uses for a Newspaper. What are the various things can you do with a newspaper? The more uses you can think of, the better.?

Stretch and think beyond the standard uses for a newspaper.

Step 2

Think of all the situations in which you cannot use a Newspaper. List as many as you can.

Step 3

Forget about the newspaper. Do something enjoyable, fun, and relaxing. Anything that makes you feel good. Happy.

Step 4

Look at the list of situations in which you said you cannot use a Newspaper.?

Now, find interesting ways to use the Newspaper in those situations.?

Steps 1 and 4 are interesting to observe.

Step 1: How many different uses for the newspaper could they think of? 10, 20, 30? The more inventive, the more uses they can think of.

Step 4: In how many situations did?they find ways to use the paper????

This activity shows their ability to challenge their?beliefs and find new ways of doing things.

You can try this test using any object. It could be a newspaper. A screwdriver. A pen. A handkerchief.

What if you try this with children??

What if you choose a different item every day?

What if you include some fun rewards to make this a fun game?

People often ask me about improving their creative thinking skills. I suggest some simple stuff like what I have described.

There is another thing you can try. Let us see if we are stuck in some situation.? For example, Mom finds that she has run out of sugar. The shops are closed for the day.

How can mom manage the day without sugar??

Interesting questions:

What can she use instead?

What else?

What would daddy do?

What would grandma think of using?

What would Chotta Bheem (or any other favourite cartoon character) do in this situation?

It does not matter whether the answers help us find solutions. The questions will stretch their minds to think of different possibilities.?

Turn an everyday situation into an opportunity to help the kid try something new.

So what opportunities can you see coming up in the next 30 minutes? Seize them!