215 - Thinking Tools: Unlocking Companies’ Potential with Stefan Fothe

Organisations will go to great lengths to create style guides, knowledge hubs, and team guides… so why aren’t they doing the same for problem-solving?Stefan Fothe believes organisations should be prioritising ‘thinking tools’ — a set of codes, methods, and skills that are shared among groups to problem-solve and ideate with autonomy and ease.Just as we develop shared technical languages and social hierarchies, we can surely add thinking tools to the mix! Learn how Stefan developed this important theory, why we need to lean into tension, and how you can prioritise thinking tools in your work with this episode.Find out about:What thinking tools are - with practical examples - and how they help groups solve problemsWhy companies are held back by not having a shared problem-solving methodologyWhy solutions have to be engineered from within, rather than presented by consultantsWhen to ask questions and when to provide suggestions — and how this can reduce overloadWhat happens when we treat tension as a valuable commodity, rather than a problemWhy consultants are storytellers and what everyone can learn from this approachHow to take ownership of tension and use it, constructively, to the company’s advantageDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksStefan’s website https://ownity.com.au/Stefan’s short video on one Thinking Tool exampleConnect to Stefan:On LinkedInSupport the Show.**Click here to navigate through all episodes via this interactive podcast map.**If you're inspired by our podcast and crave similar conversations, consider joining Dr Myriam Hadnes' NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Community. **If you're keen to master the art of facilitation, discover our expert-led live, online Facilitation Courses at the NDB Academy. **If you enjoy the show, consider a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.