How To Innovate Better with Forced Connections
“You don’t have a really good idea until you combine two little ideas.”
— Twyla Tharp
Want a simple way to flow more ideas, create breakthrough innovations, and get unstuck?
Create new ideas with Forced Connections.
Forced Connections is a simple tool the from Creative Problem-Solving toolbox, that you can use to innovate better and create new ideas.
In the book, Create in a Flash, Roger Firestien, P.H.D., shares how to use Forced Connections to create new ideas and get your creative juices flowing.
Try Forced Connections to Create New Ideas
Forced Connection is a simple idea. Combine unrelated things to create new ideas.
Firestien writes:
“Most breakthroughs come by connecting things that are not usually considered connected. Often these connections occur as if by chance. You are working on a tough problem, you are stymied for a solution, so you take a step back.
Then you see something unrelated to your problem and you make a connection.
Unfortunately you had to wait to make that connection. What if you could make that connection on demand?”
Forced Connections is the Essence of Creativity
So many innovations are combinations of ideas. Whenever you get stuck, combine ideas to create your way out and get ideas flowing again.
Firestien writes:
“In the world of Creative Problem-Solving, we have a technique for this called Forced Connections. It is my go-to method to help increase combinent thinking.
Forced Connections is the essence of creativity; the practice of combining new ideas that don’t appear to be related in any way. This idea helps you get ideas flowing when you are stuck.”
How To Use Forced Connections
Here is a simple approach to using Forced Connections according to Firestien:
- Consider the problem you are trying to solve.
- Pick an object or situation that is completely unrelated.
- Find or “force” a connection between the problem you are working on and the seemingly unrelated object.
And… Voila! There you have your new idea.
Example — How To Make ACME Bathtubs Better
Firestein shares an example of creating new ideas for bathtubs using Forced Connections.
Let’s say you work for the ACME bathtub company.
You start with the question:
“What might be all the ways we can improve our bathtubs?”
It’s not long before the group runs out of all the usual ideas. They need some inspiration and some novelty.
This is where Forced Connections comes in.
You pull out a few pictures. You show bananas, then a beautiful beach, then an airplane cockpit.
Here are the new ideas from the group, inspired by Forced Connections:
Bananas
Make it non-slip, make it yellow, put a soft bottom in the tub, shape the but to fit your body and –have a bunch of my friends over
Beautiful Beach
Put salt water in the tub, serve cocktails in the tub, a tub for two, have soothing ocean sounds and an outdoor tub
Airplane Cockpit
Put in temperature controls for the tub, put lots of windows around the tub, put seats in the tub and make the tub fly
Note, you don’t have to use pictures. That just might make it easier for some people. You just have to take a look around and find something that is not related, and then combine the ideas.
Also note, a flying tub really exists. You can search for it online and watch the videos.
Seek Wild and Unusual Ideas Through Forced Connections
The bottom line is that if you want to create new ideas, you can’t keep looking in the same places you’ve already looked.
If you think about it, combining is one way that nature innovates.
Practice combining things and have fun with it. Everyday, all around you, you have ideas that can be combined.
Who knows what you will you think of next.
Your might only be one wild idea away from your next big breakthrough.
