How Introverts can Level the Creative Playing Field

Introverts (like me) can take full advantage of a technique I call Bounce and Blink to fully engage in creative exchanges.  Instead of our normal introverted tendency to reserve our verbal output until our ideas are fully baked, we can confidently communicate our very first notions that are often intuitively brilliant.  Extroverts do this naturally well as a strength but tend to dominate the airtime in verbal exchanges.  It’s time us Introverts step-up to level the creative playing field.

Ideas happen fast.  Sometimes the first thing that pops into our head is spontaneous, naïve, and yet brilliant.  I call these Blinks because they happen that quickly.  There’s a lot of value in listening to the first thought that comes to mind.  Malcolm Gladwell wrote a fantastic book called Blink which delves deeply into the power of recognizing our first instantaneous response to problems, challenges, and input from stimuli.  Here’s how Introverts (or anyone) can purposefully leverage their Blinks to be more creative. 

Establish the format of Bounce and Blink in your immediate culture

Develop a common language with the people you work with that allows you to probe them for their brilliant spontaneous response.  

Here are terms to use:

• A Bounce is probing/asking for a quick response.
• A Blink is the actual quick/spontaneous response.

Using Bounce and Blink creates a different set of expectations in the dynamics of your exchange.  It’s about speed, spontaneous reaction, and the freedom to be authentic.  It also frees introverts from introspective hesitation.

Here’s what Bounce and Blink sounds like in action. “May I Bounce this off of you?   I’m just looking for a Blink.”  In other words, you’re not looking for a version of “War and Peace”, or even a highly considered answer.  You’re just looking for the quick Blink response.  If they don’t have any answers or an idea that’s earth-shattering, that’s fine.  You’re taking a shot by Bouncing it off of them. 

Think of Bounce and Blink as more of an attitude than a technique

If you’re in a meeting or having a conversation with someone, and you have a spontaneous idea that isn’t fully baked, share it by saying, “Here’s a Blink…”  And, then lay it on them in its raw form.  By saying it’s a Blink; you’re letting them know that you aren’t necessarily married to it yet.  The idea is spontaneous and likely has a lot of room for improvement.  It provides an open invitation for them to piggyback on it to make it great.   Plus, it opens the door for a second right answer.  This is the way creative conversations get started.

The dynamics of Bounce and Blink make it a super valuable exchange

Once this important language is established it lets your free-flow ideas without the fear of being judged or feeling obligated to come up with a polished perfect answer.  This is a mental barrier introverts often have to overcome.  You will begin to trust and encourage each other’s spontaneous reaction since you know it leads to higher creativity. 

Using the words, Bounce and Blink helps to set the right context.  In today’s laser-fast work environments, we need this ability to do rapid prototyping with each other right on the front lines, vs. scheduling meetings or committees.  Formal brainstorming sessions are getting harder and harder to fit into people’s schedule.  Bounce and Blink are organic rapid prototyping.

The most innovative companies in the world all have rapid prototyping built into the DNA of their cultures.

Reach the cultural tipping point:

It’s possible to achieve a cultural “critical mass” or tipping-point with the Bounce and Blind approach.  Once the majority of people accept it as a natural way of interacting, then the entire culture of the team will change. 

Bounce and Blink are the most natural and organic way to rapid prototype together as a team that I’ve ever seen.  It levels the creative playing field for introverts allowing their voice to be heard.  An open-minded rapid prototyping attitude will become an expectation that has a super high ROI for quality ideas and collaboration.  This is a worthy goal for any team that’s serious about upping their game on innovation, and including everyone in the process.

Steve VanValin, CEO Culturology 

Steve@culturologyworks.com

Culture Strategist, Speaker, Facilitator  

www.culturologyworks.com 

484 364 1171

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