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Plan a concrete work block with agenda, roles, preparation, and a copyable result artifact.

Method session20-45 minWorkshopBad Idea List

Session: Worst Possible Idea

The plan translates the method into a concrete facilitated work block. Your inputs flow directly into the session brief and work artifact.

Derived automatically

Method session with 3-12. The plan uses the existing method logic and the runsheet.

Runsheet
Participation logic
Team round, shared work and alignment

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome logic
Finish artifact

The session works directly toward Bad Idea List. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

  1. 1

    Phase 1: Challenge and rules

    5 min

    Read challenge aloud, clarify taboo list. Facilitator gives two own example bad ideas to set the norm. Raise energy, loosen posture. Hint: If the group does not laugh or react after examples, the method is probably wrong. Better to stop than run it politely.

    FacilitatorBad Idea List
  2. 2

    Phase 2: Collect bad ideas

    10-15 min

    Round-robin or parallel collection of at least three bad ideas per person. The more absurd, the better. No discussion, no filter. All on sticky notes in left column. Hint: If ideas stay tame ("a bad version of a good idea"), facilitator pushes: "even worse, even more embarrassing". Real Worst Ideas are uncomfortable.

    FacilitatorReframed Concepts
  3. 3

    Phase 3: Extract principles

    10-15 min

    For each bad idea ask: why is it bad? Which principle does it violate (for example privacy, attention, trust)? Note principles next to the bad idea. Hint: Principles are the real treasure. A bad idea without identifiable principle is only comedy and can be discarded.

    FacilitatorIdea Shortlist
  4. 4

    Phase 4: Reframing and shortlist

    10-15 min

    Invert principles or use them constructively. Create one concrete positive idea per principle in the right column. Select shortlist of 3-5 ideas with dot voting (2 dots per person). Hint: Reframing is not "the opposite" but positive application of the principle. Example: bad idea "force users through 30 seconds of ads" -> principle attention -> reframe "reward with 5-second value content before every action".

    OwnerBad Idea List
  5. 5

    Publish artifact

    10 min

    Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients.

    OwnerBad Idea List
Usable artifact

Session Brief

For invitations, boards, tickets, PR descriptions, or workshop notes.

session-brief.md

Session Brief: Worst Possible Idea

Goal

Artifact: Bad Idea List

Working Question

Which intentionally bad ideas for the challenge reveal principles that can be inverted into usable solutions?

Context

Original challenge as one sentence; occasion (warmup, stuck team, early ideation); known taboos that are NOT allowed as bad ideas (for example discriminatory jokes).

Setup

  • Format: Method session
  • Duration: 20-45 min
  • Mode: Workshop
  • Participants: One facilitator who enforces rules and leads reframing; three to twelve participants with different perspectives; one scribe for Reframed column and shortlist.
  • Owner: One facilitator who enforces rules and leads reframing
  • Participation mode: Team round, shared work and alignment
  • Outcome logic: Finish artifact

Participation Logic

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome Logic

The session works directly toward Bad Idea List. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

Input

Whiteboard or Miro board with two columns (Bad Ideas, Reframed Ideas); sticky notes; timer; clear challenge at the top.

Preparation

Write challenge at top. Prepare two columns. Announce rule: phase 2 only collects bad ideas, no evaluation. Briefly name taboo list.

Agenda

  1. Phase 1: Challenge and rules (5 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Read challenge aloud, clarify taboo list. Facilitator gives two own example bad ideas to set the norm. Raise energy, loosen posture. Hint: If the group does not laugh or react after examples, the method is probably wrong. Better to stop than run it politely. Output: Bad Idea List

  2. Phase 2: Collect bad ideas (10-15 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Round-robin or parallel collection of at least three bad ideas per person. The more absurd, the better. No discussion, no filter. All on sticky notes in left column. Hint: If ideas stay tame ("a bad version of a good idea"), facilitator pushes: "even worse, even more embarrassing". Real Worst Ideas are uncomfortable. Output: Reframed Concepts

  3. Phase 3: Extract principles (10-15 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: For each bad idea ask: why is it bad? Which principle does it violate (for example privacy, attention, trust)? Note principles next to the bad idea. Hint: Principles are the real treasure. A bad idea without identifiable principle is only comedy and can be discarded. Output: Idea Shortlist

  4. Phase 4: Reframing and shortlist (10-15 min) Owner: Owner Action: Invert principles or use them constructively. Create one concrete positive idea per principle in the right column. Select shortlist of 3-5 ideas with dot voting (2 dots per person). Hint: Reframing is not "the opposite" but positive application of the principle. Example: bad idea "force users through 30 seconds of ads" -> principle attention -> reframe "reward with 5-second value content before every action". Output: Bad Idea List

  5. Publish artifact (10 min) Owner: Owner Action: Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients. Output: Bad Idea List

Closeout

  • Update result artifact: Bad Idea List
  • Define location, version, and review recipients.
  • Define owner, next step, and review date.
Usable artifact

Work artifact

Pre-filled starting point based on the matching template.

work-artifact.md

Bad Idea List: Worst Possible Idea

Working Question

Which intentionally bad ideas for the challenge reveal principles that can be inverted into usable solutions?

Context

Original challenge as one sentence; occasion (warmup, stuck team, early ideation); known taboos that are NOT allowed as bad ideas (for example discriminatory jokes).

Participants

  • Owner: One facilitator who enforces rules and leads reframing
  • Participants: One facilitator who enforces rules and leads reframing; three to twelve participants with different perspectives; one scribe for Reframed column and shortlist.

Input

Whiteboard or Miro board with two columns (Bad Ideas, Reframed Ideas); sticky notes; timer; clear challenge at the top.

Template

Worst Possible Idea Working Template

Goal

Use deliberately bad ideas to unlock useful directions and reduce creative pressure.

Context

What challenge should the group explore, and what kind of outcome is needed?

Input

  • Challenge statement:
  • Constraints:
  • Reference material:
  • Participants:

Working area

  • Worst ideas:
  • Why they fail:
  • Reversed principles:
  • Useful ideas:
  • Selection notes:

Output artifacts

  • Bad idea list:
  • Reframed concepts:
  • Idea shortlist:

Open questions

  • ...

Decision / next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Completion Check

  • Bad Idea List is complete enough for review:
  • Location:
  • Version / status:
  • Review by:
  • Next step:

Next Step

  • Review result
  • Mark open questions
  • Schedule review or decision
Template base

Worst Possible Idea Working Template

View templateCompact working template for Worst Possible Idea with bad ideas, reversals, and useful concepts.
markdown

worst-possible-idea-working-template.md

Compact working template for Worst Possible Idea with bad ideas, reversals, and useful concepts.

Worst Possible Idea Working Template

Goal

Use deliberately bad ideas to unlock useful directions and reduce creative pressure.

Context

What challenge should the group explore, and what kind of outcome is needed?

Input

  • Challenge statement:
  • Constraints:
  • Reference material:
  • Participants:

Working area

  • Worst ideas:
  • Why they fail:
  • Reversed principles:
  • Useful ideas:
  • Selection notes:

Output artifacts

  • Bad idea list:
  • Reframed concepts:
  • Idea shortlist:

Open questions

  • ...

Decision / next step

Owner, date, and success signal.

Ready to use when
  • Working question, owner, and target artifact are visible.
  • The result fits Bad Idea List.
  • Own entry per session with date and challenge. For several sessions on same challenge, cite previous principles to avoid repetition.
  • Open questions are noted as follow-ups.
  • The next review or decision point is scheduled.
ProfileRunsheet