“…analogies, it is true, decide nothing, but they can make one feel more at home.” – Sigmund Freud
There’s amazing power inside of a good analogy. Good analogies provide the ability to relate and understand, much like a decoder ring. I have found that analogies can help creative people relate to problems, strategy, and concepts better than just rolling out raw data or information. But what makes a good analogy? Here are some common traits:
- Tell Stories – Good analogies create pictures. They take information and put a skin of story around them.
- Transfer Data – Analogies remove emotion and opinion because the good ones just transfer data from boring to practical. When we remove the emotions and opinions, we’re left with only the necessary information that can translate into an analogy. A good analogy makes the exact same point as the raw information, just in a unique and creative way.
- Makes it simple – Don’t chase rabbit trails. Before using an analogy, think it through. Make sure that it’s simple. The art is in the simplicity. Tell more with less…it matters.
- Reframes the issue – The beauty of an analogy is that it allows us to reframe any issue. Reframing provides the ability to translate data into a language we can use. It makes the information relatable.
- Drives home a point – An analogy with no point or a weak point only creates confusion.
Analogies help us solve problems and think more strategically while applying a creative lens to our situations. They help us understand a little better and give our best problem solvers a chance to uncover solutions that aren’t always easy to identify. Do you use analogies? Have you found they help?
