Challenging assumptions

20 - 40 min. + review

1 - 16 people

CHALLENGING ASSUMPTIONS is a 20-minute, small group activity that explores some of the creative thinking skills that enable us to break old patterns and establish new ones and is an interesting and engaging way of helping people to distinguish the difference between useful assumptions and those that limit potential. It is also an excellent introduction to training in innovation, creative problem-solving and  creative thinking skills and a challenging ‘warm-up’ activity for a problem solving or planning team in advance of tackling ‘real-life’ problems and solutions.

 Description:

Challenging Assumptions examines and challenges thinking patterns of individuals and groups, uncovering assumptions that drive behaviour, and strong learning achieved for any level of participant. It is often used as a relevant ice-breaker or a challenging ‘warm-up’ activity for a problem solving or planning team, in advance of tackling ‘real-life’ problems.

Individuals will explore the nature of assumptions and their limiting effect through working on this practical ‘puzzle’. It explores in particular how individuals can follow assumptions unconsciously and how sometimes it is important to challenge whether deeply held assumptions are restricting creative and innovative thinking. It can be used to ask individuals to explore strategies for challenging their own thinking processes, and also to consider sensitive and positive ways of doing this in group situations.  It will also explore an individual's personal capacity for resilience when faced with a challenging learning situation - how will they react when faced with this difficult problem?

 Application:

• Creative problem solving skills
• Developing creative and critical thinking skills
• Understanding that sometimes it is important to challenge and change deeply held assumptions
• Exploring strategies for challenging individual thinking processes
  
  

   Benefits for the players:

This deceptively simple puzzle challenges assumptions that people routinely make to improve creative thinking skills, problem solving & innovation skills. It raises the awareness about the benefits and limitations of using previous experience when trying to solve new problems.

  Activity contents:

• Facilitator manual with full activity instructions and review suggestions
• 4x puzzles per pack