Purpose: To challenge participants’ ability to think creatively.

 Time Required: 15 minutes.

 Size of Group: Unlimited.

 Materials Required: Scrap paper for everyone.

 The Exercise in Action: The next time you want to put a different spin on a tired exercise and challenge participants creatively, consider the approach of trainer Tony Manning.

Give each participant a single sheet of paper and ask them to make a plane that flies. Each person will more than likely be successful and also be able to demonstrate for others having problems. Next ask that they use a fresh sheet of paper to create a new flying machine. Allow them the same amount of time to look for an entirely new design—a revolutionary new airborne machine that must fly.

In all likelihood, very few will succeed. Most will build upon or slightly alter the conventional design. When all have finished, take a piece of paper, crush it into a ball, and throw it across the room. Explain that the problem was to create a new flying machine, not to repeat more of the same. A ball of paper will fly. It doesn’t matter whether something fits our concept; what is critical is whether or not that something fits the parameters of the individual problem—or the valid requirements of the participant’s customer or client.