Twenty-Minute Creative Sprints
On average, the human brain has the capacity to concentrate up to twenty minutes. After that, focus and concentration levels drop forcing our minds to daydreams and other thoughts. I am a large proponent of twenty-minute creative sprints. These sprints allow for agile brainstorming, which ultimately leads to effective problem solving. Here is how it works.
Creative sprints can be done in a team setting or on an individual basis. You have twenty minutes to accomplish each sprint. Each creative sprint must include the following steps.
Sprint 1
Step 1: Start The Timer
I find it is best when using a timer as a countdown. The rush of seeing the numbers turn backwards helps to produce more ideas quickly and efficiently.
Step 2: Define The Answer
If you are brainstorming, you have a problem to solve. Define the answer as quickly as possible with the least amount of words. You will need to reference this often.
An answer might be, ‘ways to increase productivity.’ Let’s take that one step further.
How about, ‘ways to make individual jobs easier.’ There we go. The answer is simple in its truest form and anyone can understand it without having to think too hard. The brainstorming will allow you to reference this answer.
Step 3: Solve The Answer
You have the answer, now it is just a matter of solving the problem at hand. The answer is, ‘make individual jobs easier.’ Therefore, what can be done to accomplish this? Be sure to watch the clock and brainstorm, brainstorm, and brainstorm. Compile a list of ideas one at a time, don’t worry so much about the number of ideas, the more the better. Do not stop, let your mind freely explore. Ideas are not to be judged at this phase.
Step 4: Take A Break
You should have successfully defined the answer, and produced ideas within the twenty minutes. At this juncture, you are not sure which ideas are worth exploring further. Take advantage of a twenty-minute break to re-charge your batteries.
Sprint 2
Step 1: Analyze Your Solutions
Start the clock again and allow yourself another twenty minutes to analyze. Does this concept solve the answer? If so, move it over to the great idea pile. If not, move it over to the reject pile. Repeat this until you have successfully analyzed all of your ideas. Remember you have ten minutes to do this, which means you have only ten to fifteen seconds to spend on each idea. At this point in the exercise, we do not want to over analyze the ideas just pick out the best ones.
Step 2: Expand On The Best Ideas
Take your great idea pile and expand on each idea that has merit. This is your chance to spend the remaining ten minutes on expanding and improving upon each idea that has merit or perhaps merging two concepts to make one.
At the end of this exercise you should walk away with a solution to your problem. If you don’t – repeat each sprint. Each time, try tweaking your answer. Simple adjustments can go a long way.
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September 25th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Hiya, I read your blog once, then lost it. Took me forever to come back and find it. I wanted to find out what comments you got. Nice blog by the way.
September 26th, 2010 at 6:24 am
Nice . . keep it up
October 11th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
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October 12th, 2010 at 3:35 am
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