“Think about your last big decision. How many genuinely different alternatives did you explore before choosing?”
— Opportunity Seeking Skills
i2 Insights: Opportunity Seeking Skills
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What’s Hiding in the Complaint?
“What’s the most common complaint you hear from customers, colleagues, or users — and what unmet need is hiding inside it?”
— Opportunity Seeking Skills
When Did You Last Surprise Yourself?
“When was the last time you pursued an idea that made you genuinely uncomfortable — and what did you learn?”
— Opportunity Seeking Skills
What Would a Newcomer See?
“If someone joined your team today with completely fresh eyes, what would they find strange, broken, or ripe with possibility?”
— Opportunity Seeking Skills
Stay in the Search
The next time you feel the itch to decide, pause and say: “What haven’t we considered yet?” Give yourself one more round of exploration before committing.
Go Where You Wouldn’t
Seek inspiration from a completely unrelated field. Read one article, watch one talk, or visit one space that has nothing to do with your current project. Note what sparks.
Zoom Out Before You Zoom In
Before diving into a task, spend 10 minutes mapping out the broader landscape. What adjacent problems exist? What opportunities are you not seeing because you’ve already narrowed your focus?
Ask “What’s Underneath?”
Take a problem you’re working on and ask “why?” three times in a row. Each answer should go deeper than the last. The real issue is usually hiding below the surface.
Collect Solutions, Don’t Crown One
In your next brainstorm, aim to leave with three viable options instead of one winner. Label them A, B, and C — and resist ranking them until tomorrow.
Borrow Someone Else’s Lens
Find a colleague who sees things differently from you. Ask them: “How would you approach this?” Listen without defending your own view. Just take notes.