Sprint

At the risk of sounding dramatic, this book was life-changing for me. I facilitated my first Design Sprint in the spring of 2018, and I've looked at problem solving differently ever since. A couple of the most impactful practices I took from this book are:

Put time limits on your work. If you have an hour, it'll take an hour. But what if you give yourself 50 minutes? You'll prioritize the important stuff, eliminate distractions, and produce an equally valuable product. Oh, and you'll actually have time to use the bathroom before your next meeting.

You're smarter when you work alone. The influence of others can be helpful when you're making a binary decision (Should I or shouldn't I?), but when it comes to ideation, that influence is more commonly a hindrance. Don't let the ideas of others negate your own stream of creativity. Reject the idea of group brainstorming, and trust your own ability to create excellence.

Seek the perspective of others. Efficiencies are found when we alter a process, but they're most impactful when we have a holistic understanding of that process. Understanding how all stakeholders contribute to and are hindered by a process is the fastest way to drive efficiency. Ask lots of questions and make sure stakeholders are heard.