Reframing by WordPlay involves
taking an initial statement of a problem, issue or opportunity and substituting
plainer, more descriptive words or phrases. These must, of course, communicate
the same basic thing, but the goal is to do so in different and plainer
language, without jargon or traditional descriptions, in order to stimulate new
thinking.
But what if we played around with the words "ambulatory clinic" and said instead "I want to design a new way for people to get information and advice that will help them stay healthy." Images of Internet websites, kiosks, a new television show, or virtual visits over the Internet more easily spring to mind. That's thinking differently!
Exercise
The aim is to come up with two to four alternative statements of the problem or opportunity in order to send thinking
in new directions. There is no right or best restatement of an issue. But
thinking about the variety of ways you might reframe it often stimulates
nontraditional or unusual thinking.
Tips
If it is helpful, pretend to be
from a foreign country and not an English speaker, as though you have never before
heard the words and phrases being used, and you need a very basic explanation of
what is meant. Play dumb!
After you write a reworded
statement, look at it and again challenge any newly introduced jargon or
overused words in order to generate additional restatements.
Remember, it is not about right,
wrong or best statements of the problem. It is about variety and breaking out
of usual patterns of thinking.