Introduction

The genius' brain doesn't work any faster than yours or mine - all brains are governed by the same physical laws, so there's no way it could. It's how the genius brain is used, that makes all the difference.

It might seem as if the genius is developing brand-spanking-new solutions on the fly, but that's just an illusion. The secret of genius is pattern-recognition and application. What's really happening when a genius comes up with a blinding insight in 20 seconds is that the genius is recognising a problem-pattern seen elsewhere and adapting and applying the appropriate solution-pattern to the new situation.

Anyone can learn to recognise and adapt patterns - deliberately at first and, in due course, automatically. This, in itself, is exciting enough, but there's even more to it.

The reality is that situations - all situations - are made up of repeating patterns.

In other words, every aspect of a particular situation follows the same (repeating) pattern. Once you know what repeating pattern is driving and governing performance in your situation, you are at a level of mastery that exceeds that of ordinary genius.

This level of mastery enables you to intervene at the pattern level, instead of merely in an ad hoc way.

Pattern Thinking is a simple technique for finding the repeating patterns that underlie complex subjects and challenging situations. It combines analytical thinking, which we're very adept at, and synthetical thinking, which we aren't very good at, at all.

Analytical Thinking versus Pattern Thinking

Analytical thinking lists a handful of elements or options, ranks them best to worst and selects the best one. In the process, it discards the other elements which obviously have merits that the selected option doesn't - or else they would not have remained on the list.

Pattern Thinking is different. It lists as many elements or options as possible, surfaces common themes and then finds the repeating pattern across those common themes. In the process, it combines the essential merits of all the options and produces a deeper and more holistic insight or solution.

Common applications of Pattern Thinking

Pattern thinking can be applied to nearly anything. Here are some examples of common application arena's:

1. Problem solving (problem pattern and solution pattern).
2. Establishing what a client, boss, other department, child or spouse really needs. (The repeating pattern across that various "wants" is the underlying need).
3. Decision patterns (the pattern across the various options is the optimal decision).
4. Improvement (the pattern across the various areas that could be improved is the improvement pattern)
5. SWOT (patterns across various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is the SWOT pattern)
6. 4 Quadrants (the pattern across the important/urgent, important/non-urgent, unimportant/urgent, unimportant non-urgent elements is the 4 quadrant pattern.

Process

1. List as many elements (of a similar type) within the situation as you can think of.
2. Surface common themes across the elements.
3. Find the repeating pattern across the common themes.

Example

Scenario

The application we have chosen for the example is the problem/solution pattern, because it can be applied to virtually anything. The scenario we have chosen is a common working environment one - because we think that the insights will be of most value to you - although we don't know what those insights will be as we write this!

Process for finding the Problem Pattern in the given scenario

1. List as many elements of the situation as you can think of.

   It's worth recording your pre-Pattern-Thinking thoughts on what the problem pattern is. This will enable you to assess the value of the exercise.

   1. Not enough time in the day to do everything I have to do
   2. Some aspects of my work are very tedious
   3. Other people hold up the progress of my work
   4. IT systems are not optimised for what we need
   5. It never rains but it pours
   6. Constant interruptions make it difficult to stay focused
   7. I don't feel as if I'm really making a difference to the planet
   8. I arrive at home exhausted
   9. I am stressed about the growing backlog
   10. Some customers are very unreasonable

2. Surface common themes across the elements.

   Here are the common problem themes we surfaced within 5 minutes:

   Work overload

   a. Not enough time in the day to do everything I have to do
   e. It never rains but it pours
   h. I arrive at home exhausted
   i. I am stressed by the growing backlog

   Meaninglessness

   b. Some aspects of my work are very tedious
   g. I don't feel as if I'm really making a difference to the planet

   Other people impact on my enjoyment

   c. Other people hold up the progress of my work
   d. IT systems are not optimised for what we need (IT people and decision makers)
   f. Constant interruptions make it difficult to stay focused
   j. Some customers are very unreasonable

   Inadequate business systems

   b. Some aspects of my work are very tedious
   d. IT systems are not optimised for what we need

3. Find the repeating pattern across the common themes.

   The problem pattern we've come up with, on our first pass is:

   Too much is outside of my control or, perhaps, Insufficient control and influence

   Here are the common themes we derived the pattern from:

   • Work overload
   • Meaninglessness
   • Other people impact on my enjoyment
   • Inadequate business systems

Compare the above - or whatever you came up with if it's different or better than ours - with your pre-Pattern-Thinking view on things. Notice any difference?

The next step is to test the pattern and see if it "fits" the original set of elements. If not, make modifications as required.

The value in the exercise so far

The value in this exercise, so far, is that, once you realise that all the issues you are facing all follow a common pattern, you can actively engage to overcome them, in concert, by developing a solution pattern for the problem pattern.

In this case, we know that we need to find a technique, approach or solution that will grant us more control over our circumstances. If we find a simple technique that will put us more in control, we know that every single one of the problems we're experiencing will be reduced significantly.

Check for yourself!

Process for finding the Solution Pattern in the given scenario

1. List as many elements of the situation as you can think of.

   Once again, it's worth taking a stab at it before you do the exercise, so that you can assess the value in the technique. The problem with insights is that once you have them you have them and it's difficult to remember what it was like to be in ignorance!

   The problem we are trying to solve is the problem of:

   "Too much is outside of my control" or "Insufficient control and influence".

   Here is a list of off-the-top-of-the-head solutions:

   1. Focus on things that are within my control - don't worry about anything else.
   2. Try to extend my control.
   3. Get good at influencing things that are beyond my control, but within someone else's control.
   4. Give up: Don't worry be happy!
   5. Become a control freak.
   6. Target specific things that I want to be in control of.
   7. Get promoted so that I am more in control.

      A good way of generating solutions is to go through the problem list and problem themes list and force out as many solutions you can think of for each of them. We've restricted ourselves to one or two per problem.

   8. Get someone to share my workload.
   9. Reduce or get my workload reduced in some way.
   10. Create a simple "production-line" for doing the tedious stuff - and churn through it.
   11. Automate the boring stuff in some way.
   12. Work with others whose delivery impacts on mine to help them deliver on time.
   13. Optimise my use of the IT systems - working around the constraints they create.
   14. Do everything possible to bring workload forward or push it back when the busy time hits.
   15. Accept the interruption but don't do the work immediately - schedule it for when you've finished the current task.
   16. Come in early or late to get work done when people can't interrupt me - take time off when they're there for personal stuff or exercise that I would normally do after hours.
   17. Identify what areas at work are most in need of improvement and make time to create improvements - even small incremental ones.
   18. Get more sleep, exercise, relaxation, healthy food.
   19. Refuse to let stress get to you.
   20. Take frequent breaks during work time.
   21. Organise a personal or team Working Bee to nuke the backlog.
   22. Schedule time to find a smart way of catching up - there is always a way.
   23. Script responses to unreasonable customers in advance.

       Whew! What a long list - and this is a just a first-cut!

       Under normal circumstances, one might feel overwhelmed by the length of the list - there are so many options and none is clearly the winner. If one's using Pattern Thinking, however, there is no need to worry, because the process will take care of it. The next step is to surface common themes - which make things a little clearer.

2. Surface common themes across the elements

   Here are the common solution themes we surfaced within 12 minutes:

   Get focused

   a. Focus on things that are within my control - don't worry about anything else.
   c. Get good at influencing things that are beyond my control, but within someone else's control.
   f. Target specific things that I want to be in control of.
   o. Accept the interruption but don't do the work immediately - schedule it for when you've finished the current task.
   p. Come in early or late to get work done when people can't interrupt me - take time off when they're there for personal stuff or exercise that I would normally do after hours.
   q. Identify what areas at work are most in need of improvement and make time to create improvements - even small incremental ones.
   u. Organise a personal or team Working Bee to nuke the backlog.

   Shield myself

   a. Focus on things that are within my control - don't worry about anything else.
   h. Get someone to share my workload.
   i. Reduce or get my workload reduced in some way.
   n. Do everything possible to bring workload forward or push it back when the busy time hits.
   o. Accept the interruption but don't do the work immediately - schedule it for when you've finished the current task.
   p. Come in early or late to get work done when people can't interrupt me - take time off when they're there for personal stuff or exercise that I would normally do after hours.
   s. Refuse to let stress get to me.

   Develop systems

   j. Create a simple "production-line" for doing the tedious stuff - and churn through it.
   k. Automate the boring stuff in some way.
   l. Work with others whose delivery impacts on mine to help them deliver on time.
   m. Optimise my use of the IT systems - working around the constraints they create.
   o. Accept the interruption but don't do the work immediately - schedule it for when you've finished the current task.
   q. Identify what areas at work are most in need of improvement and make time to create improvements - even small incremental ones.
   v. Schedule time to find a smart way of catching up - there is always a way.
   w. Script responses to unreasonable customers in advance.

   Be intentional

   a. Focus on things that are within my control - don't worry about anything else.
   b. Try to extend my control.
   c. Get good at influencing things that are beyond my control, but within someone else's control.
   f. Target specific things that I want to be in control of.
   g. Get promoted so that I am more in control.
   h. Get someone to share my workload.
   i. Reduce or get my workload reduced in some way.
   n. Do everything possible to bring workload forward or push it back when the busy time hits.
   v. Schedule time to find a smart way of catching up - there is always a way.
   w. Script responses to unreasonable customers in advance.

   Protect my attitude and energies

   d. Give up: Don't worry be happy!
   r. Get more sleep, exercise, relaxation, healthy food.
   s. Refuse to let stress get to me.
   t. Take frequent breaks during work time.

   Optimise the use of my time

   j. Create a simple "production-line" for doing the tedious stuff - and churn through it.
   k. Automate the boring stuff in some way.
   l. Work with others whose delivery impacts on mine to help them deliver on time.
   m. Optimise my use of the IT systems - working around the constraints they create.
   n. Do everything possible to bring workload forward or push it back when the busy time hits.
   o. Accept the interruption but don't do the work immediately - schedule it for when you've finished the current task.
   p. Come in early or late to get work done when people can't interrupt me - take time off when they're there for personal stuff or exercise that I would normally do after hours.
   q. Identify what areas at work are most in need of improvement and make time to create improvements - even small incremental ones.
   t. Take frequent breaks during work time.
   v. Schedule time to find a smart way of catching up - there is always a way.

   Schedule things

   l. Work with others whose delivery impacts on mine to help them deliver on time.
   o. Accept the interruption but don't do the work immediately - schedule it for when you've finished the current task.
   p. Come in early or late to get work done when people can't interrupt me - take time off when they're there for personal stuff or exercise that I would normally do after hours.
   q. Identify what areas at work are most in need of improvement and make time to create improvements - even small incremental ones.
   t. Take frequent breaks during work time.
   v. Schedule time to find a smart way of catching up - there is always a way.

3. Find the repeating pattern across the common themes

   The repeating pattern we found across the common themes is:

   Deliberately program my attitudes, responses, time and approach to ensure that I become more and more in control of my working environment.

   Here are the common solution themes we deduced the repeating pattern from:

   • Get focused
   • Shield myself
   • Develop systems
   • Be intentional
   • Protect my attitude and energies
   • Optimise the use of my time
   • Schedule things

Compare what you've come up with, with what you started with. Notice the difference in the level of your insight - pretty cool, huh?

Solution assessment

This solution pattern might not be perfect, but it seems to be an effective one because programming will enable me to:

1. Gain ever-increasing control over my time, because it will enable me to ensure an appropriate balance of effort between the important and the urgent, between working in my role and working on my role and between work and leisure.
2. Limit wasted effort on things beyond my control.
3. Cull the trivial, automate the mundane and structure the critical.
4. Enable me to exercise greater control over people who's delivery mine depends upon, by bringing me to develop and negotiate an appropriate delivery schedule and communication mechanism.
5. Engage intentionally in bringing the most valuable outcomes about.
6. Engage intentionally in improving my competence.
7. Engage with others in an ever-increasingly more effective way.

Please note that this is merely a first-cut - we've deliberately resisted refining it further, to provide an accurate reflection of the level of quality required. In the real world, one would continue to refine things as greater clarity and insight allowed.

Using Pattern Thinking with other people

Individuals

One can bring individuals to gain deeper, pattern-level insights into complex problems and challenging situations, by getting them to think of an alternative to the solution they're pushing (or a few alternatives) and then asking them "What do those alternatives have in common?"

Groups

Pattern Thinking is a very powerful technique in a group situation, because it gives one the freedom - and motivation - to seek diverse perspectives on a topic issue or situation and then ask the proponents of each point of view to identify elements of other points of view that are in common with their own point of view - or elements of their own point of view that are in common with other people's points of view. This brings about a very different engagement from the conventional one of defending one's own point of view so vehemently that all one can see in anyone else's point of view is how it conflicts with one's own.

Prodsol provides Pattern Thinking Workshops, of different types and durations to both individuals and groups. Please contact us if you'd like to explore the possibility of holding one for your team or organisation.