Wishful Thinking Technique

Applied properly, this approach can free you from unnecessary but unrecognized assumptions that you are making about the scenario of concern.

Procedure for Use:

Generally, the steps to follow in applying the technique are as follows:

1. State the question, goal, situation, or problem.

2. Assume anything is possible.

3. Using fantasy, make statements such as: ‘What I really want to do is…’ or If I could choose any answer to this question, it would be….’

4. Examine each fantasy and their statements and, using this as a stimulation, return to reality and make statements such as: ‘Although I really cannot do that, I can do…’ or ‘It seems impractical to do that, but I believe we can accomplish the same thing by….’

5. If necessary, repeat Steps 3 and 4.

Examples for Use:

1. How can I learn more about how customers use my product?

2. I can be any size or shape I want.

3. I will just step inside one of the products shipped today and peer out at my customer and observe how he or she uses the product.

4. Well, I don’t think I can accomplish that feat, but I can get a customer’s agreement to let me observe my product under use their facility and videotape employees at work using my product.