I really like the “bed, bath, bus” reference. I had never heard that!

Glo

The internet provides us with a great source for browsing how others have approached similar problems, bringing much of the world’s knowledge to us. Proper research of established knowledge should always precede spending resources to develop new ideas. Using Google Image search and searching through online PowerPoints are a great way of focusing searches towards people who really know what they are talking about.

Groups of people can be more resourceful than individuals because of their wide experience – IF – they can work together, avoid groupthink, and function well enough to make good choices. Since groups go through the “forming, storming, norming, performing stages”, brainstorming ideas from newly formed groups is not very effective. There is some evidence, however, that brainstorming “incognito” via the web can improve the ability of a group to develop novel ideas.

Personal resourcefulness happens best when we are not directly thinking about a problem, but have thought about it and allowed our minds to go elsewhere. There is sound evidence that “bed, bath, and bus” occasions when we are awake but constrained by circumstances not to do much, allow for “Eureka” moments. Archimedes was right.

Necessity can make us more resourceful than abundance, unless the necessity is life-threatening and paralyzing. I remember as a student wanting a cruise control on my first car, since I had to drive it from Texas to Quebec, but not having the money to install even an aftermarket throttle control, much less a cruise control. The result was a makeshift but very effective throttle control made of some sheet metal, a bent welding rod, a turnbuckle, and (2) rubber bands – exactly a la McGyver. It held a constant throttle, cut off when I put on the brake, allowed me to override with my foot to accelerate, then come back to the set position, and provided infinite adjustment – all for less than $5.00 of materials.

Coaching, as you suggest, is a way of providing external “prodding” to help people think outside of their normal comfort zones, much as a devil’s advocate can help a group to avoid groupthink. It is important to steer the coachee who is seeking solutions towards 1) research of pre-existing ideas 2) group knowledge or knowledge from recognized experts 3) learning from failure rather than depression 4) operating with minimal resources rather than abundance unless faced with a crisis, and especially 5) waiting for the “bed, bath, bus” moment to appear once they’ve reflected carefully on steps 1-4.

Glo