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Brain Circuits

The power of limits: Eno’s strange exercises for innovation

Published 16 January 2025 in Brain Circuits • 4 min read

Visionary composer Brian Eno uses “strange exercises” to help foster creative conditions for writing new music – exercises that can be readily adapted to innovate in business.

Limit your field of exploration

Technology keeps developing to the point where the options available can seem overwhelming. In this scenario, you do not have time to test every option – so you need to find ways of limiting the field of exploration. This can be done by artificially deciding not to use anything in one part of the field (for example, Eno sometimes ‘bans’ musicians from using any equipment in one half of the studio).

 

Utilize the power of panic

Putting arbitrary limits on processes often induces panic – which can be a very creative response. As Eno says, “The funny thing is, in panic people often do very interesting things.” This includes doing things they wouldn’t risk doing otherwise because they can always blame the system.

 

Think in secret

This is about getting things done by looking like you are doing nothing. Eno cites how Japanese calligraphers would row out on the lake in small boats and grind ink all day then, as dusk fell, return to shore and quickly finish their pictures. Such long preparation plants the seed of something in your mind without taking any deliberate action. During this “secret thinking,” you’re not conscious of thinking about the thing and instead “work” on it subconsciously.

 

Get uncomfortable

Eno’s “strange exercises” include making everyone in the studio swap instruments – even if it means that people are trying to play an instrument they have never played before. This puts people in situations where they are uncomfortable, so they are less likely to fall back on what they know or have done before – which sets things up in a new way. Eno says, “Sometimes people who can’t play an instrument accidentally have brilliant ideas. They do something so outrageously stupid or simple that nobody would ever think of doing it. But it’s just the right thing sometimes.”

 

Key takeaway

Imposing limits and time constraints and putting people in unfamiliar situations can unleash the most unexpected innovations.

Authors

Didier Bonnet

Professor of Strategy and Digital Transformation

Didier Bonnet is Professor of Strategy and Digital Transformation at IMD and program co-director for Digital Transformation in Practice (DTIP). He also teaches strategy and digital transformation in several open programs such as Leading Digital Business Transformation (LDBT), Digital Execution (DE) and Digital Transformation for Boards (DTB). He has more than 30 years’ experience in strategy development and business transformation for a range of global clients.

Related

Limit your field of exploration

Technology keeps developing to the point where the options available can seem overwhelming. In this scenario, you do not have time to test every option – so you need to find ways of limiting the field of exploration. This can be done by artificially deciding not to use anything in one part of the field (for example, Eno sometimes ‘bans’ musicians from using any equipment in one half of the studio).

Utilize the power of panic

Putting arbitrary limits on processes often induces panic – which can be a very creative response. As Eno says, “The funny thing is, in panic people often do very interesting things.” This includes doing things they wouldn’t risk doing otherwise because they can always blame the system.

Think in secret

This is about getting things done by looking like you are doing nothing. Eno cites how Japanese calligraphers would row out on the lake in small boats and grind ink all day then, as dusk fell, return to shore and quickly finish their pictures. Such long preparation plants the seed of something in your mind without taking any deliberate action. During this “secret thinking,” you’re not conscious of thinking about the thing and instead “work” on it subconsciously.

Get uncomfortable

Eno’s “strange exercises” include making everyone in the studio swap instruments – even if it means that people are trying to play an instrument they have never played before. This puts people in situations where they are uncomfortable, so they are less likely to fall back on what they know or have done before – which sets things up in a new way. Eno says, “Sometimes people who can’t play an instrument accidentally have brilliant ideas. They do something so outrageously stupid or simple that nobody would ever think of doing it. But it’s just the right thing sometimes.”

 

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