Worst Possible Idea
Intentionally generate terrible ideas to reduce pressure and unlock creativity.
Explanation
Sometimes the pressure to generate good ideas creates paralysis. The 'Worst Possible Idea' technique deliberately seeks out bad, inappropriate, or impossible ideas. This removes performance anxiety and often leads to unexpected insights. Bad ideas can contain kernels of good ideas, and the permission to be silly often unlocks more creative thinking overall.
Real-World Example
Improving customer service: Worst ideas: Make customers wait longer, charge for support, only help on weekends, answer in foreign languages, use robot voices. Analysis reveals insights: 'Wait longer' → What if waiting included entertainment? 'Charge for support' → Premium support tier? 'Robot voices' → AI that sounds more human than humans?
How to Apply
Explicitly ask for terrible ideas. Make it fun—compete for worst idea. Document all bad ideas seriously. After generating many bad ideas, analyze them for hidden insights. Often bad ideas point to opposite good ideas. Use bad ideas to identify what definitely doesn't work, clarifying what might work. Creates psychological safety for better ideas later.