Design Thinking

Design Thinking for Lay Leaders
Leveraging Creativity for Problem Solving and Growth

As part of the recent URJ Leadership bootcamp that I wrote about last month, I also signed up for a thought-provoking conversation on “Design Thinking for Lay leaders” led by Orna Segal. After reviewing my notes – and doing some further research on the concept – I would like to share some key learnings on this problem-solving tool that grew out of the tech and business sectors, and is now widely used in other sectors, including faith communities.

What is Design Thinking?
Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that is rooted in understanding the user’s needs. It follows a structured methodology that involves several stages including inspiration, problem definition, idea generation, consultation, and implementation.

Why Use Design Thinking?
Design thinking is particularly valuable because it helps tackle complex problems—those that are difficult to define and even harder to solve. For religious congregations, large or small, it provides a structure of confronting unique challenges and opportunities thoughtfully and innovatively.

One of the core principles of design thinking is that it provides a way to approach novel challenges, especially when the future is uncertain. By concentrating on intent, design thinking ensures that solutions are focused on the problem or opportunity at hand and aligned with the community’s values. It also offers a flexible framework for navigating uncharted territories, allowing synagogue leaders and members to explore new experiences and opportunities. This mentality transforms challenges into chances for growth and enrichment and does so by following several structured steps:

1. Inspiration: The design thinking process begins with inspiration—understanding the needs and desires of the congregation and the wider community.
2. Defining the Problem: Before jumping into solutions, it’s crucial to define the problem clearly. It follows the mantra “that it’s better to spend 25 minutes thinking about a problem and five minutes solving it than the other way around”. Taking the time to understand the core issues and opportunities at hand can lead to more effective and sustainable solutions.
3. Idea Generation: An essential aspect of design thinking is gathering multiple views on how a problem or opportunity might unfold. By putting ourselves in others’ shoes, we can understand the problem from various perspectives. This collective insight can reveal hidden aspects of the issue and inspire more comprehensive solutions.
4. Implementation brings these ideas to life, through actionable plans and tangible outcomes

Design thinking can work well when addressing complex issues that lack clear solutions, or what Orna Segal referred to as “wicked problems”. By breaking down these problems into manageable parts and exploring them through creative and collaborative methods, congregational leaders can devise innovative strategies that resonate with their members and stakeholders.

In uncertain times, a design thinking approach can equip religious congregations with the tools to navigate novel challenges. It emphasizes the importance of intentionality—solutions that are purposeful and reflect the congregation’s mission and values. It helps solve complicated problems through a systematic and empathetic process that encourages leaders to stop and think deeply about their challenges and opportunities. Going forward, I look forward to working with our leadership to embrace design thinking practices so Solel will remain a vibrant, engaged, and resilient congregation.

John

Filed under: President's Message

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