Creative thinking is examining problems and situations from a fresh perspective and devising innovative solutions. It involves thinking outside the box and developing original ideas.
Creative thinking is a critical workplace skill, allowing employees to generate new ideas and improve their roles and projects.
Here is a guide on a five-step process for creative thinking and its role in the workplace:
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What is Creative Thinking?
Creative thinking is the cognitive process of generating new ideas, concepts, associations, and connections that may seem unorthodox or unconventional. It goes beyond logical thinking to tap into the full potential of the human mind and how creative you are.
Creative thinking allows people to imagine and explore new possibilities beyond the obvious or conventional.
Background on Creative Thinking
Creative thinking has always played an essential role in human advancement and innovation.
Throughout history, those who could think creatively brought new inventions, art, ideas, and solutions to old problems.
More than ever, Creative thinking is needed as we tackle complex challenges that require out-of-the-box solutions.
Companies today value creative thinkers who can bring fresh perspectives and approaches.
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Maximizing a Five-Step Creative Thinking Process
Having a structured creative thinking process can help maximize innovation. Here is an example five-step approach:
- Preparation: Define the problem, gather information, and immerse yourself in the topic.
- Incubation: Step away to allow ideas to develop unconsciously.
- Insight: The “Aha!” moment when a new idea breaks through.
- Evaluation: Determine if the idea is valuable and feasible.
- Elaboration: Flesh out the details and implement the idea.
Following these steps can help surface creative ideas methodically. Allowing time for incubation and insight is critical.
When to Use Creative Thinking in the Workplace
Creative thinking should be used when:
- Brainstorming new products, services, or processes.
- Facing complex or novel challenges.
- Improving workflows and procedures.
- Developing solutions to problems.
- Finding innovative ways to serve customers.
- Looking for growth opportunities.
The Value of a Five-Step Creative Thinking Process
- Generates more ideas: A structured process produces more ideas vs just thinking randomly.
- Looks at problems differently: Allows you to attack problems from new angles.
- Makes space for incubation: Taking a break lets ideas develop unconsciously.
- Builds on ideas: Each step helps strengthen and refine ideas.
- Leads to original solutions: Process aims for out-of-the-box thinking.
Features and Benefits of a Five-Step Creative Thinking Process
Features:
- Preparation: Analyze the problem in-depth.
- Incubation: Take a break to gain distance.
- Insight: Let ideas break through naturally.
- Evaluation: Assess ideas objectively.
- Elaboration: Refine and implement ideas.
Benefits:
- Looks at challenges comprehensively.
- Allows unconscious processing.
- Encourages breakthrough thinking.
- Tests feasibility of ideas.
- Yields actionable solutions.
5 Tips for Using a Five-Step Creative Thinking Process
- Define the problem clearly before starting.
- Schedule breaks for incubation. Go for a walk or do something different.
- Document ideas when they come so you don’t forget.
- Have others evaluate ideas to reduce bias.
- Set aside time to refine ideas into solutions.
Example of a Five Step Creative Thinking Process
Let’s look at how a software company might use this process to improve its onboarding:
- Preparation: Review current onboarding pain points and objectives. Examine competitors.
- Incubation: Take a break and let ideas marinate.
- Insight: Realize onboarding could be gamified to be more engaging.
- Evaluation: Analyze if gamification fits the brand and budget.
- Elaboration: Design a prototype of the gamified onboarding program.
Conclusion
A structured creative thinking process can help unlock innovation in the workplace. Following steps like preparation, incubation, insight, evaluation, and elaboration allow organizations to tap into their creative potential.
Creative thinking is a valuable skill that enables employees to bring fresh ideas and new solutions to the table.
Companies that foster creative thinking can gain a natural competitive edge.
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With 30+ years of training experience, I founded Oak Innovation (oakinnovation.com) in 1995. I help busy training professionals and business managers deliver better training courses in less time by giving them instant access to editable training course material. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from University College Cork. I hold qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. Clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.
