4. Paradoxical Intention
Paradoxical intention is a brainstorming technique for sparking more ideas by
deliberately thinking of ways to make the problem worse. In the example of how to
improve the paperwork in an office, you could add the following to the list:
• tell everyone to put things in writing
• mix the files up
• leave them in untidy piles
• remove the filing cabinets
• don't have a clerk
• collect others' bills as well.
and so on.
It is possible that one idea might paradoxically have the basis of a solution: in this
case, the office could agree to collect others' bills and turn itself into an archive centre