How To Use Analogical Thinking To Find Inspiration And Solve Difficult Problems In Novel And Unexpected Ways
This is a brief guide to leverage analogical thinking for the solution of problems.
Analogical thinking has many benefits. It allows to transport knowledge of a certain situation to a different and unfamiliar one. It is a potent way to deal with problems in new and unexpected ways.
Unfortunately, it is mostly unknown and very rarely utilized in a systematic way to spark innovative solutions.
The reason for this is that few people take inspiration from the way their brain works to solve new problems.
In the case of analogical thinking, for example, some of the obstacles are:
- People don’t know what analogies are
- Even if they do, they fail to use them consciously
- Even when they want to use it deliberately, they lack a framework to do so.
The good news is that one such framework is very easy to learn and apply.
Here’s how, step by step:
Step 1: Brainstorm locations that have the problem you’re interested in solved
Let’s say you are a financial advisor and want to build trust with your potential customers.
Where can you find places that have solved that problem? It doesn’t matter if they are in the same space as you. In fact the farther away, the better.
Step 2: Choose one that’s close to your heart
This one is easy.
So you came up with three examples: a barber shop, a gym, a plastic surgeon. Choose one that feels close to you. Maybe you have a beard and go regularly to the barber’s. Or you have been wanting to start going to the gym for a while.
Step 3: Make a visit and experience their offering
Now, the fun part.
Go there. Live the experience of how that place solved the problem that you are having in another setting. If you chose a barber, maybe he builds trust by showing you pictures of other clients, or by hanging prices on the wall.
Write down everything. Right away.
Step 4: Extract principles from the observations
This is where the magic happens.
Go over your notes and try to abstract principles from what you saw. If the barber showed you pictures, what is he doing? He is giving you a vision of a possible and better future.
Step 5: Leverage inspiration to spark new ideas
This is the most important part.
Take the abstractions from the previous step and answer: How can I do the same in my setting? Being a financial advisor, maybe having testimonials of past clients would serve the same purpose as the pictures the barber showed you.
