Three Faces of Innovation: Dreamer, Realist, Critic

Last Updated on 7 July 2021

Michael Michalko (author of “Thinkertoys” and “Cracking Creativity“) was interviewed by Dan Keldsen from BizTechTalk. They discussed Michael’s perspective on various techniques for creative thinking.

During the discussion, Michael mentions a technique Walt Disney would use for drumming up ideas…

Dreamer, Realist, Critic/Spoiler

Walt would approach ideas in three phases…

Dreamer
Day one, he would spend all day fantasizing, coming up with the most fantastic, absurd ideas he could.

Realist
The next day, he would play the realist and try to imagineer these ideas back to earth.

Critic/Spoiler
On the third day, he would become the critic – a spoiler – and try to punch holes in all the ideas he had come up with.

The ideas that survived this process were the ones Walt would work on.

See also: Disney Brainstorming Strategy