Artwork: Cathryn Lloyd
In the Innovation Playground, we look for ways to help people think differently about their business without making the process heavy or complex. One of the simplest and most effective tools I share with clients is Rose Bud Thorn.
It’s playful. It’s visual. And it quickly reveals what’s going on.
Here’s the structure:
🌹 Rose – What’s working well?
🌱 Bud – What’s emerging?
🗡️ Thorn – What’s challenging?
I like to add visual cues and prompts; hand-drawn images work well to focus the conversation. It gives people something to focus on and a shared visual language.
What I love about this process is how quickly it brings clarity.
People often realise:
- they’re further along than they thought
- more possibilities and opportunities are available than they think
- challenges feel more workable when they’re visible
- the next steps often reveal themselves
One participant said
“I found the process interesting and well thought out, as it enabled me to view things from different perspectives. It was on point, holistic and easy to implement.”
If you’d like to see Rose Bud Thorn in action,
you can watch a short clip of the process below.
And while this process may seem simple, it always brings clarity.
Wondering how Rose Bud Thorn can support your next planning session or team chat? Give it a go or call me to discuss how it can work with your team.