If you are looking for a simple innovation exercise to do with your team, try “Balloons and Sandbags”.

It’s simple.

For this, you will just need a large surface to write on, either a whiteboard, or a large piece of paper.

At the very top, write down the title of the innovation project or ambition you are trying to improve.

Then below that, divide that area in half with a line down the middle, and write “Balloons” on one side, and “Sandbags” on the other.

The concept is based on a hot air balloon: the balloon(s) provides the lift in order for a project to take off and fly, the sandbags are there to add weight and keep it down so that it can’t fly before it is ready.

Finally, as individuals, use post it notes to write down your own list of balloons (what is going well or helping the project) and sandbags (what is hindering or preventing progress) for the project. Do this in silence for about 10 minutes. The important thing here is to be specific, so instead of a sandbag listed as “too slow”, write something specific like “the time it takes the legal team to respond to our requests for approval take 7 weeks!”.

Then come together as a group, and one at a time place your post it notes in the balloons or sandbags area. As a group, then discuss the themes of what people wrote, and group similar ideas together.

Finally, think of some ways to remove some of the specific sandbags, by identifying the root causes and finding ways to alleviate those.

Do this a couple of times, and you might just help your innovation project finally take off and soar.

Did you know that scientific evidence shows your creativity decreases over time

Idea to Value Podcast: Listen and Subscribe now

Listen and Subscribe to the Idea to Value Podcast. The best expert insights on Creativity and Innovation. If you like them, please leave us a review as well.
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Spotify
Stitcher
The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy LinkedIn profileMy YouTube channel

Nick Skillicorn

Chief Editor, Founder & CEO at Improvides Innovation Consulting
Creativity & Innovation expert: I help individuals and companies build their creativity and innovation capabilities, so you can develop the next breakthrough idea which customers love. Chief Editor of Ideatovalue.com and Founder / CEO of Improvides Innovation Consulting. Coach / Speaker / Author / TEDx Speaker / Voted as one of the most influential innovation bloggers.