Michael Lissack Signs of Creative Mental Models
Creative mental models typically display several characteristics:
1. Comfort with ambiguity
Creative models use phrases like "sometimes," "it depends," "poten- tially," or "under certain conditions." They acknowledge that reality is complex and rarely categorical. Consider how Lisa Su transformed AMD by embracing the ambigu- ity of competing against Intel. Rather than seeing the competition as an either/or proposition (either we beat Intel everywhere or nowhere), Su's mental model allowed for a both/and approach—focusing on specific market segments while building broader capabilities.
2. Integration of diverse perspectives
Creative models actively incorporate insights from different fields, disciplines, and viewpoints, often using connective phrases like "and also," "moreover," or "what if we combined." Tesla's approach to automotive design integrates mental models from consumer electronics (regular software updates), energy systems (battery technology), and luxury goods (brand experience)—creating a product that doesn't fit neatly into traditional automotive categories.
3. Focus on possibilities rather than limitations
Creative models emphasize what might be possible, using language like "we could," "imagine if," or "what if," rather than focusing primarily on constraints. When SpaceX began, traditional aerospace mental models empha- sized the impossibility of reusing rockets due to technical constraints. Elon Musk's creative mental model instead focused on the possibility: "If we could reuse rockets, we could fundamentally change the economics
48
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease