The Disney Strategy

Walt Disney developed a system to facilitate the creativity on which his business depended. He defined three different thinking styles and created three different room environments. Thinking took place in the appropriate room, with the right conditions to stimulate the relevant mood.

In addition, he encouraged people to take up an appropriate physiology to further stimulate the desired thinking style.

He named the three thinking styles, Dreamer, Realist and Critic.

• The Dreamer is necessary to form new ideas and goals – to widen the areas of thought.
• The Realist is necessary as a means of transferring those ideas in concrete expression – defines actions to be taken.
• The Critic or Evaluator is necessary as a filter and as a stimulus to refinement – evaluates pay-offs and draw backs.

The DREAMER asks or provides answers to

• “What is it that we want to do?”
• “Why do we want to do it?”
• “What are the pay-offs?”
• “When can you expect them?”

Attitude: Anything is possible.

The REALIST or IMPLEMENTER asks

• “How specifically will these ideas be implemented?”
• “How will we know if the goal is achieved?”
• “Who will do it?”
• “When will each step be implemented?”
• “Where will each step be carried out?”

Attitude: Act ‘as if’ the dream is achievable.

The CRITIC or EVALUATOR asks

• “Who will this idea affect and how will it affect them?”
• “Why might someone object to this idea?”
• “Where and when would you not want to implement them?”
• The critic defines the contexts in which it may not work and preserves any positive aspects of the present situation, defines any refinements.

Attitude: Consider ‘What if problems occur?’.