Collaboration – The Mesh Method

Educators talk about the importance of injecting convergent and divergent thinking into learning frameworks. Divergence pushes you to reach for ideas, while convergence allows you to take all of these ideas, reflect upon them (“fact-check”), and create actionable steps that lead to progress (fig. 1A). Two sides of the same coin.

fig. 1A: A simple model conveying Convergent vs Divergent thinking

The Mesh Method uses convergence and divergence as the means to initiate actionable brainstorming. Actionable brainstorming is a concept that ties ideas to value. Value is determined per-session, based on each unique challenge.

Participants are first asked to define a problem to solve (Discovery). Once the problem is understood, they are encouraged to free-flow ideas and test theories related to solving the challenge (Brainstorming or Divergence). This is done in a structured way, designed to give equal opportunity to contribute and listen. When the brainstorming session ends, the moderator (a non-participant in charge of monitoring and refereeing) asks the group to create some next steps, assigned to each participant (Value or Convergence). These action items may include, for example:

Contacting the customer about a specific concern
Writing/updating documentation
Submitting hotfixes for code review
Sharing findings during a team meeting

…and so on. The potential paths are endless, and possible due to sharing perspectives and knowledge transfer.

Divergence and convergence go hand in hand. If you follow a process that favors one over the other, you are either:

Confusing activity with accomplishment, or
Limiting your potential positive outcomes

However, when combined you have a powerful tool that helps solve challenges comprehensively.

When you have established a trusting climate where it’s safe to be wrong and everyone is encouraged to brainstorm ideas, you can implement an approach that blends the ebb and flow of divergent and convergent processes. This leads to brainstorming with purpose and incredible value.

We are perfectly imperfect.

Post author By Pat Patterson
Post date May 5, 2020
Sticky post

Everyone is different. Perfectly imperfect. We learn differently, we communicate in different ways, we have strengths and weaknesses…and furthermore, there are things we don’t even know about ourselves yet. It is this diversity, these mysteries that make us interesting. All organizations are a melting pot — introverts, extroverts, direct and indirect communicators, process-driven and creative thinkers alike.

One of the cornerstone principles of The Mesh Method is that everyone – no matter their role – has something beneficial they can share with others. I have seen Sales/BDRs work well with Senior Engineers and Support agents working well with C-Level executives. Before every session, there is an uneasiness that stems from a fear of being different, of being judged…of being wrong. This is common, not just for every Mesh participant, but for everyone.

The Mesh Method is built on a foundation of trust for this reason. All participants begin with similar doubts, unsure about how their skill sets match, but with the help of a moderator, realize that they are safe to freely share their thoughts and express themselves. Being honest is encouraged and being wrong is welcomed.

By the end of each session, we have identified new learning opportunities and have picked up new skills from one another. These range from small wins like hotkey shortcuts, to larger ones like identifying ways our work impacts one another.

It is transformative.

Over the course of time, the ideas from these sessions interconnect and start to strengthen the core of the entire organization. They create deep bonds with people that wouldn’t ordinarily interact, they build trust-based relationships at scale, and they provide comprehensive solutions to tough challenges – many times, outside of the session. The sessions act as a spark of creativity.

When we share a mindset of let’s work to strengthen one other, problems become puzzles. All puzzles have solutions – and we, in our perfectly imperfect ways, are the pieces.