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How does your organization respond when the “way things have always been” just won’t cut it? Every organization will inevitably face a situation where its people are challenged to question long-standing assumptions governing thinking, processes, and accepted practices. In light of the current economic climate, your organization might be struggling to make uncomfortable adjustments even now.

Research shows that high-performing organizations excel during tough times. One way they do this is by not taking the easy way out, by not simply accepting dogmatic practices that are just plain out of touch. What do you think might happen if you were to challenge your organization’s current assumptions about the way of doing business? Sure, you might get some pushback and/or some uneasy stares, but what you are certain to gather are some fresh, innovative, and unique ideas.

Five Star recently conducted a companywide brainstorming exercise that you could quickly and easily implement in your organization. This activity was inspired by Michael Michalko’s book, Thinkertoys, which chronicled the creation of the Smart Shirt.

1. Put together a list of accepted, organizational assumptions.
2. Break into small groups, and assign each group an assumption.
3. Ask each group to “flip” the assigned assumption.
   Example Assumption: We work Monday through Friday.
   Reverse Assumption: We work when the customer needs us.
   Potential Idea: Allow employees to work a more flexible schedule to meet increased demands.
4. Work through ideas of how things “would be” if the reversed or flipped assumption were true.
5. Share ideas.

The goal of the activity is to gather every possible idea and then evaluate each one’s potential effectiveness. Studies show that if ideas can work for the flipped assumption, it’s likely they can also work in some form for the original assumption.

Whatever your particular situation, your organization can use this activity to brainstorm new ways to push the envelope and be successful in today’s economic climate.