Any fan of jazz music will tell you how enjoyable - or even euphoric - it can be when multiple musicians, instruments, and sounds come together. The blending of notes, rhythms, and improvisations coming from multiple artists are what set jazz apart from other types of music; what make jazz unique. So how can observations from this style of music help us with what we call ‘generative conversations’? Just like in a jazz performance, generative conversations bring together people with different skills, experiences, and perspectives in order to solve a problem creatively.
In the context of running a business, generative conversations can - but rarely do - occur organically. Usually one team or individual attempts to push through their own point of view or solution to a problem, while others get ignored. Luckily, a fantastic new article from Wharton lays out some simple and effective techniques for facilitating these conversations in a business setting, and uses neuroscience to explain how solutions are come to in this process. In particular: play by the jazz rules.
By following the unique aspect of improvisation and cooperation allow teams to take a step back from problem solving into exploring the challenge directly. This serves the dual purpose of gathering more information about the existing problem, while also not overloading the team on the most glaring or obvious parts. In other words; be curious rather than determined.
Just like in jazz, this method of problem-solving allows our minds to open and be creative in a way that otherwise wouldn’t happen. By entering into a mindset of exploration and structured dialogues in which participants alternate between speaking and listening, teams can improvise to reach breakthrough solutions to complex challenges. Check out the full article here and see if all these steps can be put together for your team to build a unique set of problem-solving techniques.
