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The Superheroes Technique - Creativity & Problem Solving

Dr Dave Hall, founder & CEO of The Ideas Centre ( ideascentregroup.com ) talks about how to escape from the 'world of what is' by using the Superheroes Technique, and generate ideas which are both novel and useful.

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#Take5 #52: The best way to … generate ideas?

Using superheroes for structured problem solving and ideas generation

The week’s #Take5 blog is brought to you from Dr Katharine Jewitt, a Learning Designer at Heriot-Watt University. The Superheroes ideas generation techniques were designed by Grossman and Catlin to provide a playful group atmosphere during idea generation. Students work in groups and assume the identity of different Superhero characters and then use the characters as stimuli for sparking ideas and problem solving. ‘Superheroes’ produces unique ideas because of its use of unrelated stimuli. This activity also works well in a diverse classroom because students can adopt a superhero of their choice and discuss the qualities of superheroes. This offers opportunities for students to share among themselves about culture, origins, backgrounds, values and unique differences. It’s an effective way to demonstrate respect for cultural diversity and makes for rich discussion. (Hopefully the superhero pictures below will appear in the blog – and be reassured – the author has a license to use them.)

Superman has X-ray vision, super hearing, can fly, and is the strongest man on earth. When not on duty, he is disguised as mild-mannered newspaper reporter, Clark Kent. He can be weakened only by Kryptonite, a leftover rock from his birth planet, Krypton. Superman is faster than a speeding bullet and is able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. He can fly, he has heat vision, super breath that can be used to freeze things as well as blow them! He can’t see through lead with his X-ray vision though.

Batman and Robin

Batman and his sidekick Robin, The Boy Wonder, are first-rate detectives who always manage to outwit the most sinister criminals. They have at their disposal an assortment of “Bat” paraphernalia, such as a Batmobile, Batplane, Batcycle, Batrollerskates, and Batrope. Barman’s alter ego is millionaire Bruce Wayne. He and Robin live in the Wayne Mansion that is built over the Bat Cave.

Wonder Woman

Picture: Wonderwoman

Wonder Woman is a truly liberated woman. With extraordinary strength, agility, and all-around athletic ability, she easily can overpower the most powerful person. With her magic bracelets, she even can deflect bullets shot at her. And, with her magic lasso, she can rope almost anything. When wrapped around someone, her lasso always causes that person to tell the truth. On occasion, she flies her own airplane, which is invisible.

Captain America

Captain America represents the ultimate in All-American ideals (truth, justice, apple pie, and mom). With his winning personality he usually has no trouble persuading others to see his viewpoint. The captain also is known for his positive outlook on life and his great strength and athletic skills. If all of these attributes are not enough protection, he also has a Captain America shield that can protect him from any harm.

Dr. Strange tries to live up to his name. As a skilled magician and sorcerer, he can create numerous illusions. He also is able to cure sicknesses, control people and situations, and change one thing into something else. Another strange thing about Dr. Strange is that he is afflicted with temporary lapses of concentration.

E.Man, whose most distinctive feature is his unlimited supply of energy, can take on any form he wishes. However, once he assumes a form, he is affected by its weaknesses. His favourite sleeping place is a toaster.

Nova Kane is the female counterpart to E-Man. She previously worked as an exotic dancer.

Spiderman, or “Spidey” as he is affectionately known by his fans, can walk on ceilings and walls. With his ever-present web, he can swing through the air as well as capture bad guys. Spiderman also has a unique ability to detect any dangerous situation before it affects him.

Mr Fantastic

Mr. Fantastic is the smartest man in the world and, although no logical correlation is involved, he can stretch his body to any length. He is a very flexible person.

Invisible Girl

Invisible Girl, as her name implies, can make herself and other people and things invisible. She also can make people and things reappear. When in danger, she creates an invisible shield which protects her from all harm.

The Human Torch

Creativity and Innovation expert, Dr David Hall, explains that to be innovate, you have to think freely. As he says, "Creativity techniques should freak you out because they have to be challenging.

Solving your marketing problem like the superhero you are

My kind of antidote is the superheroes technique, used with a small group of people . I've got a set of 12 cards and on each card there is a definition of a different superhero. So we've got Batman, we've got Wonder Woman, we've got Spider-Man, we've got the Human Torch. We have a whole range of cards. If I'm going to run a creativity session to generate new ideas using superheroes , I'll give everyone involved one card. And on that card is the definition of their superhero with an outline of the superhero skills that they may have. If you're Wonder Woman, you've got magic bracelets, Lasso of Truth, then those are your kind of key attributes, you've got a range of others that are defined on the card. Batman with the psychic, the boy wonder and what-have-you, and his Batcave and the Batmobile and all his bat paraphernalia, you've got a completely different set of superhero skills. The rules of the game are that you brainstorm solutions to get to the problem in the style of your superhero , which sounds bonkers quite frankly. But if you think about it, any superhero can solve any problem. You never get a blockbuster superhero movie where the opening credits die down, Wonder Woman tips up and says, "What seems to be the problem?" She goes, "Oh, I can't solve that." Closing credits. End of film. I don't think so. Wonder Woman with her magic bracelets, Lasso of Truth can solve any problem, quite frankly, and it's a brilliant film to watch and entertaining. Batman would solve exactly the same problem using a different set of skills . Spider-Man would be different again. The Human Torch will be different again . So what you do is try and generate one solution to your organisational problem from each of the superheroes.

But superheroes don't exist!

It will be novel. Well, of course it will be novel, because it's going to use superhero skills. And it will be useless. Of course it will be useless, because it's using superhero skills, which clearly don't exist. And we refer to that as an ' intermediate impossible '.

It's something that would definitely solve the problem if only it were possible. Each of the creative problem solving techniques involves that intermediate step . Generating an idea that's both novel but useless, but the key aspect is it must solve the problem, if only it were possible. With superheroes, we generate that using the superhero skills.

Using your own 'super powers' to save the day!

Once you've got that novel and useless idea that would definitely solve the problem, all you have to do is to identify the characteristics of it that make it work, then do what we're good at. Find a useful way of delivering exactly the same set of characteristics. So if you think about it, every superhero solution is simply a metaphor for something in the real world and what we're good at is converting that metaphor. We can take a bonkers idea, but then use it as a metaphor for something that will give us a fresh perspective on how to solve the problem in the real world . And what you do is you work through that novel and useless idea, keep the novelty, but find a useful way of delivering the same effect. Bingo. You've got an idea that's both novel and useful. Can't fail provided you follow the rules. One thing I know for certain is that if someone comes to me with a problem that they can't solve and they want to use a creativity technique, whatever's happening inside their head, it cannot solve the problem. So whatever the arrangement of the furniture inside their head may be, I have to find a way of moving that furniture around the place because that same arrangement will just lead to the same solutions.

So you have to climb inside the head of the problem owner and mess with what's happening in there. By definition, you cannot use conventional and traditional techniques to escape from convention and tradition . You have to use unconventional untraditional techniques, i.e. weird . And the bottom line for me is, if the techniques don't feel weird then you're not doing it right, hence the need to play.

This is an edited extract from Dr David Hall's podcast interview on ' creativity and innovation '.

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Role playing.

Rick Griggs, Michael Michalko.

Role Playing as a group brainstorming method invented during the 1980s by business guru Rick Griggs. Later Michael Michalko suggested a similar method Hall of Fame (Michael Michalko. Thinkertoys. A Handbook of Creative thinking techniques. 1991)

3. Description

In the role-playing technique, the participant can take on a personality or role different from his own. This is about taking on a different identity, whether an invented persona or someone you know. If there’s a particular problem that you’re trying to solve, you can role play what it’s like to be in the situation that you’re trying to resolve. Assume that identity or refer to the fictitious person as “this person would suggest . . . ”. This will allow you to suggest out-of-the-box, creative ideas.

4. Main functions

1. Role play allows them to think about the problem or opportunity in a new way—and, often, to come up with new and creative ideas. 2. This technique allows you to change your perspective by getting you to role play a different person and see how they would approach the problem. 3. Role play is useful in preparation for unpredictable situations and testing new ideas. 4. As the technique is fun, it can help people reduce their inhibitions and come out with unexpected ideas. 5. Role playing improves creative abilities, empathy, role-playing skill and the social atmosphere of the group.

5. Theoretical grounds

It’s extremely helpful to view a task from different angles and to see the world from someone else’s point of view. This will help you to think outside of the norm and, like the role playing technique, will allow you to express ideas that you would not normally express.

6. Main rules

1. Describe their character’s personal qualities and motivations. 2. List their character’s strengths and weaknesses. 3. Speak in character, using “I” when referring to their character.

7. Basic steps

1. Identify your main problem and reformulate it into a question. 2. Form your own group of fictional and real characters, create a list of famous people. This technique is built around different types of personas. It can be anybody you like, including people from history, people from fiction, people you admire or even cartoon characters. For example, participants might become: 1. expert or a person who is related to the problem you have 2. completely different person, it will help you find radically different ideas. 3. figure from history with a strong reputation for a particular type of thinking 4. fictional figure with a particular type of thought process; superhero. 3. Choose a role. 4. Get used to the character that you play. Think about the character, see it acting in the way they normally act. Think his thoughts and feel what he is feeling. Be the person. 5. Ask that person how they would respond to the questions and proposed solutions. Have discussions between characters about the problem. What would he do? How would he see the problem? How does he think? What action would he take? How would he solve the problem? 6. Choose another character-adviser and look at the problem from his point of view. 7. Record emerging ideas. 8. Select the most promising ideas from the resulting list and try to develop them and transform them into a solution to the problem.

8. Variants

1. superhero or the napoleon technique, 1. description.

This is a similar technique in which participants pretend to be fictional superheroe–such as Superman, Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk, Batman, James Bond, Wonder Woman, Sherlock Holmes, and so on–and use their ‘super’ characteristics to trigger ideas. All superheroes have skills and capacities that are outside ‘normal’ behaviour, which allows you to think outside the norm and to express unusual ideas from the safety of your super-hero persona.

2. Main steps

1. Choose a role 2. Pretend to be a fictional (or real) superhero and use your ‘super’ characteristics to generate ideas.

2. Hall of Fame

(Michael Michalko. Thinkertoys. A Handbook of Creative thinking techniques. 1991)

1. Create your personal Hall of Fame . Select those people, living or dead, real or fictional, who appeal to you for one reason or another. For e[ample: Some of the members of my personal Hall of Fame: Ben Franklin, Mark Twain, George Patton, John F. Kennedy, W. Somerset Maugham, Winston Churchill, Diogenes, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sigmund Freud, Peter the Great, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Schweitzer, Jesus Christ, Julius Caesar, Plato, Aristotle, William Shakespeare, Sun Tzu… 2. When you have a challenge, consult your Hall of Fame. Select an adviser and choose a favourite quotation. 3. Ponder the quotation. Write down your thoughts, regardless of appropriateness to the challenge. If you think it, write it, and try to use these thoughts to generate more relevant thoughts. The basic rules are: • Strive for quantity. • Defer judgment. • Freewheel. • Seek to combine and improve your thoughts. 4. Choose a thought of the combination of thoughts that hold the most promise. Then restate it. 5. Allow yourself five to ten minutes to come up with new ideas. If you produce nothing significant, select another quote or go to another adviser. Keep consulting your Hall of Fame until a quote or passage provokes a train of usable ideas.

 Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is a fantasy board of powerhouse business leaders and innovators who will assist you in overcoming your business challenges. Imagine having at your disposal the experience, wisdom, and know-how of Thomas Edison, Douglas MacArthur, Alfred Sloan Jr., Lee Iacocca, Thomas Watson, John D. Rockefeller, Bernard Baruch, Sam Walton, Andrew Carnegie, J. P. Morgan, Henry Ford, Donald Trump, Ted Turner, or whomever you admire most, living or dead.

Main steps:

1. Select the three to five business movers and shakers, living or dead, whom you admire most. 2. Get photographs of your Board (these could be photocopied from magazines), and pin them on your wall in a prominent spot. These photographs will constantly remind you of the talent at your disposal. 3. Research your heroes: Hit the library, read their biographies and autobiographies, read what their critics say about them; in short, read everything about your heroes that you can get your hands on. 4. Take notes on your favourite passages, perhaps about obstacles and how they overcame them, or anything that strikes you as relevant and interesting. Pay particular attention to the creative techniques they employed to solve problems, their secrets, what made them stand out, what made them extraordinary, and so on. Keep a separate file on each hero. 5. When you have a challenge, consult the members of your board and imagine how they would solve it. How would Henry Ford resolve a labour problem? Can you think of the ways Thomas Edison would suggest looking for new products or services? How could you use Thomas Watson’s sales techniques?

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The Role Of The Creative Facilitator, Part 1: Process

Learn how the role of the creative facilitator changes throughout the creative problem solving process. From defining the problem in the scoping technique to the ideas generation process utilising convergent and divergent thinking, Dr Dave Hall talks through how to take a group of people on an unusual process!

The Role Of The Creative Facilitator, Part 2: Characteristics

Not everyone makes a great creative facilitator, but what are the key characteristics that make someone excel at the role? Find out as Dr Dave Hall talks us through the skills needed to become a creative sherpa that can successfully guide people through the creative process.

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12 Powerful Creative Problem-Solving Techniques That Work

No one likes the feeling of being stuck.

It creates internal tension. That tension seeks resolution.

Thankfully, there are many creative problem-solving techniques for resolving this tension and revealing new solutions.

In this guide, we’ll explore 12 creative ways to solve problems with a variety of techniques, tools, and methods that be used for personal use and in the workplace.

Let’s dive in…

How to Approach Creative Problem-Solving Techniques

All of the creative problem-solving techniques discussed below work some of the time .

While it’s fine to have a favorite “go-to” creative problem-solving technique, the reality is each problem has some unique elements to it.

The key to is mix and match various techniques and methodologies until you get a workable solution.

When faced with a difficult challenge, try a combination of the problem-solving techniques listed below.

The Power of Divergent Thinking

Creativity is everyone’s birthright.

One study with 1,500 participants, found that 98 percent of children around the age of five qualify as geniuses. 1 George Land and Beth Jarman, Breakpoint and Beyond , 1998.

That is, virtually all children are gifted with divergent thinking— the ability to see many possible answers to a question.

For example, how many uses can you think of for a paper clip?

The average adult might offer 10 to 15 answers. Those skilled in divergent thinking divine closer to 200 answers.

Yet, something happens along the way because by adulthood, how many people score at the genius level? Only 2 percent!

That is, we see a complete inversion: from 98% being geniuses in early childhood to only 2% in adulthood.

What causes this debilitating drop in creativity?

According to creativity researcher Sir Ken Robinson, the answer is our schooling. 2 Sir Ken Robinson, Do schools kill creativity? TED Talk , 2006. Through 13 years of “education” our innate creativity is stripped out of us!

Conditioning Yourself for Creative Solutions

So to improve the efficacy of these creative problem-solving techniques, it helps to re-condition ourselves to use divergent thinking.

The key is to learn how to remove our prior conditioning and restore our natural creative abilities. You’ll notice that many of the creative problem-solving techniques below help us do just that.

Thankfully, divergent thinking is a skill and we can develop it like a muscle. So the more we use divergent thinking, the more second nature it becomes.

For this reason, when you’re presented with personal, professional, or business-related problems, celebrate them as an opportunity to exercise your creative abilities.

12 Powerful Creative Problem-Solving Techniques

Now, we’re going to cover 12 creative problem-solving techniques with examples that you can apply right away to get results.

These creative problem-solving methods are:

• Use “What If” Scenarios
• Focus on Quantity Over Quality
• Switch Roles
• Use the Six Thinking Hats Technique
• Explore Different Contexts
• Take a 30,000-Foot View
• Ask Your Subconscious
• Mind Map Your Problem
• Adopt a Beginner’s Mind
• Alter Your State of Consciousness
• Find Your Center

Then, we’ll quickly review a series of problem-solving tools you can experiment with.

1 – Use “What If” Scenarios

Use “what if?” questions to project different scenarios into the future.

In A Whack on the Side of the Head , Roger Von Oech, says,

“In the imaginative phase, you ask questions such as: What if? Why not? What rules can we break? What assumptions can we drop? How about if we looked at this backwards? Can we borrow a metaphor from another discipline? The motto of the imaginative phase is: Thinking something different.”

Using this creative problem-solving technique challenges you to allow your mind to play out different scenarios without judgment or criticism .

(Judgment always comes after the creative problem-solving process—not before.)

2 – Focus on Quantity Over Quality

Creativity research shows that focusing on generating more ideas or solutions instead of on the quality of the ideas ultimately produces better results. 3 Paulus, Paul & Kohn, Nicholas & ARDITTI, LAUREN. (2011). Effects of Quantity and Quality Instructions on Brainstorming. The Journal of Creative Behavior. 45. 10.1002/j.2162-6057.2011.tb01083.x .

This phenomenon is known as the “Equal-Odds rule.” Nobel laureate Linus Pauling instinctively suggested a similar process: 4 The Evening Sentinel , Priestley Award Winner Says Deployment of ABM’s “Silly”, Start Page 1, Quote Page 6, Column 1, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. March 28, 1969.

I was once asked ‘How do you go about having good ideas?’ and my answer was that you have a lot of ideas and throw away the bad ones.

When I used to facilitate meetings and brainstorming sessions with leadership teams in large organizations, this was an invaluable creative problem-solving technique. By consciously focusing on generating more ideas first instead of evaluating the quality of the ideas, you avoid shifting into a critical mindset that often stops the ideation process.

3 – Switch Roles

Our minds tend to get locked in habitual patterns, leading to what’s called “paradigm blindness.” Another related term is the “curse of knowledge,” a common cognitive bias observed in so-called “experts” in their field. 5 Hinds, Pamela J. (1999). “The curse of expertise: The effects of expertise and debiasing methods on prediction of novice performance”. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied. 5 (2): 205–221. doi:10.1037/1076-898X.5.2.205 . S2CID 1081055

This cognitive bias is another illustration of how divergent thinking was conditioned out of us during our formative years.

Switching roles helps us “wear a different hat” where we momentarily shift away from our conditioning.

For example, if you have a marketing-related problem, try putting on an engineer’s hat—or even a gardener’s hat. If you have a problem as an entrepreneur, put yourself in the customer’s mindset. See the world from their point of view.

The idea is to shift your perspective so you can approach the problem from a new angle. Your ability to shift perspectives quickly—without privileging any one perspective—doesn’t only help you solve problems. It also helps you become a stronger leader .

4 – Use the Six Thinking Hats Technique

Speaking of hats, creativity researcher Edward de Bono developed an effective creative problem-solving technique called the Six Thinking Hats.

The Six Thinking Hats provides you and your team with six different perspectives to utilize when tackling a problem. (You can use these six hats on your own too.)

Each hat serves a different function. For creative problem solving, you start with the blue hat to clearly define the problem.

You then move to the white hat where you outline all of the existing and known data regarding the issue. Next, you put on the green hat and generate as many ideas as you can (similar to the “quantity over quality” technique above).

Then, you put on the yellow hat, which represents what de Bono calls “value sensitivity.” The yellow hat is used to build on the ideas generated from the green hat phase. Finally, you put on the black hat to evaluate your solutions and play Devil’s Advocate.

The Six Thinking Hats is an excellent technique for group brainstorming and creative problem-solving.

5 – Explore Different Contexts

Many problems arise because we neglect to zoom out from the problem and examine the larger context.

For example, long-term investments are often based on an “investment thesis.” This thesis might be based on trends in the market, consumer demands, brand recognition, dominant market share, strength in innovation, or a combination of factors. But sometimes the assumptions you base your thesis on are wrong.

So if you’re facing a problem at home or work, examine your assumptions.

If sales are down, for example, instead of revisiting your sales strategy investigate the context of your overall industry:

• Has your industry changed?
• Is your business disconnected from your customer’s needs?
• Is your product or service becoming obsolete?

We can often find creative solutions to our problems by shifting the context.

6 – Take a 30,000-Foot View

Often, when we’re stuck in a problem, it’s because we’re “missing the forest for the trees.”

Zoom out and take a “30,000-foot view” of the situation. See your problem from above with a detached, neutral mindset. Take an expansive viewpoint before narrowing in on the specific problem.

This problem-solving technique is another variation of changing the context.

Sometimes you’ll find this to be a powerful creative problem-solving technique where the right solution spontaneously presents itself. (You’ll think to yourself: Why didn’t I see this before? )

7 – Walk Away

Most often, the best problem-solving technique is to stop trying to solve it —and walk away.

Yet, our minds often don’t like this technique. The mind likes to be in control. And walking away means letting go of control.

I spent five years researching creative geniuses trying to better understand the source of inspiration for a book I was writing years ago. 6 Scott Jeffrey, Creativity Revealed: Discovering the Source of Inspiration , 2008.

In studying dozens of creative geniuses, from Mozart to William Blake, a clear pattern emerged.

Creative geniuses know when to walk away from the problems they are facing. They instinctively access what can be called the Wanderer archetype.

More recent studies show that deliberate “mind-wandering” supports creativity. 7 Henriksen D, Richardson C, Shack K. Mindfulness and creativity: Implications for thinking and learning. Think Skills Creat. 2020 Sep;37:100689. doi: 10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100689 . Epub 2020 Aug 1. PMID: 32834868; PMCID: PMC7395604. Great ideas come to use when we’re not trying. 8 Kaplan, M. Why great ideas come when you aren’t trying. Nature (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2012.10678

Wandering and reverie are essential to the creative process because they allow us to hear our Muse. The key is knowing when to let go of trying to solve the problem. Creativity problem-solving can, in this way, become an effortless process.

8 – Ask Your Subconscious

When we’re stuck on a problem and we need a creative solution, it means our conscious mind is stuck.

It does not, however, mean that we don’t already know the answer. The creative solution is often known below our conscious awareness  in what can be termed our subconscious mind, or our unconscious.

Psychiatrist Carl Jung realized that dreams are a bridge from the wisdom of our unconscious to our conscious minds. As Jungian analyst Marie-Louise von Franz explains, 9 Fraser Boa, The Way of the Dream: Conversations on Jungian Dream Interpretation With Marie-Louise Von Franz , 1994.

Dreams are the letters of the Self that the Self writes us every night.

One of the most powerful creative problem-solving techniques is to ask your subconscious mind to solve the problem you’re facing before you go to sleep. Then, keep a journal and pen on your nightstand and when you awaken, record whatever comes to mind.

This is a powerful technique that will improve with practice. It’s used by many geniuses and inventors.

Another variation of this creative problem-solving technique that doesn’t require sleeping is to ask your inner guide. I provide a step-by-step creative technique to access your inner guide here .

9 – Mind Map Your Problem

Another way to get unstuck in solving problems is to access the visual side of our brain. In left/right hemisphere parlance, the left brain is dominated by logic, reason, and language while the right brain is dominated by images, symbols, and feelings. (I realize that the “science” behind this distinction is now questionable, however, the concept is still useful.)

Our problems arise largely in our “thinking brain” as we tend to favor our thoughts over other modes of processing information. In the language of Jung’s Psychological Types , most of us have a dominant thinking function that rules over our feelings, intuition, and sensing functions.

Mind mapping is a powerful creative problem-solving technique that deploys visual brainstorming.

I learned about mind mapping in the 1990s from Tony Buzan’s The Mind Map Book and used this method for many years.

In the context of problem-solving, you draw the problem in the center of the page and then start ideating and connecting ideas from the center. Think of mind mapping as a visual outline.

You don’t need to be a skilled artist to use mind mapping. Nowadays, there are also numerous apps for mind mapping including Mind Meister and Miro, but I would still recommend using a blank piece of paper and some colored pencils or markers.

10 – Adopt a Beginner’s Mind

Our early “education” conditions us with what psychologists call functional fixedness where we look at problems from a familiar viewpoint.

Numerous creative problem-solving techniques we discussed above—like switching the context, changing our roles, wearing the Six Thinking Hats, and taking a 30,000-foot view—are designed to overcome functional fixedness.

Another technique is found in Zen philosophy called a Beginner’s Mind .

With a beginner’s mind, we empty our minds and forget what we think we know. In doing so, we enter a more playful, childlike state. Instead of being serious and “attacking the problem,” we can tinker and play with different ideas and scenarios without any fears of “getting it wrong.”

It can be a liberating experience. Psychologist Abraham Maslow found that self-actualizing individuals enter a state like the Beginner’s Mind where they get fully absorbed in whatever they are doing.

11 – Alter Your State of Consciousness

Another thing I noticed in my examination of artists and creative geniuses is that virtually all of them used various substances to alter their state of consciousness when  producing creative work and solving intellectual problems .

The substances vary widely including stimulants like coffee and/or cigarettes, alcohol (like absinthe), and all manner of psychedelic substances like LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and peyote.

I’m not suggesting you should “take drugs” to solve your problems. The point is that it’s incredibly useful to alter your state of consciousness to help find creative solutions.

While using various substances is one way to accomplish this, there are many other methods like:

• Stanislav Grof’s Holotropic Breathing Technique (similar to pranayama breathing)
• The WIM Hof Method (ice cold showers)
• Brainwave entrainment programs (binaural beats and isochronic tones)
• The Silva Method (also uses brainwave entrainment)
• Kasina Mind Media System by Mindplace (light stimulation and binaural beats)

Many of these types of programs shift your brain from a beta-dominant state to an alpha-dominated state which is more conducive for creativity. See, for example, Brain Awake by iAwake Technologies.

12 – Access Your Center

Perhaps the easiest and safest way of altering your state of consciousness is via meditation . Studies show that people experience improved brainstorming and higher creativity after only twenty minutes of meditation—even if they’re inexperienced meditators. 10 Colzato, L.S., Szapora, A., Lippelt, D. et al.  Prior Meditation Practice Modulates Performance and Strategy Use in Convergent- and Divergent-Thinking Problems.  Mindfulness  8, 10–16 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0352-9

When we’re stuck on a problem, or feeling confused about what we should do, we’re usually experiencing internal resistance. Different parts of us called archetypes hijack our minds and give us conflicting wants, beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives. These parts keep us from thinking clearly to find workable solutions.

As such, when you’re stuck, it helps to find your center first . It can also be highly beneficial to ground yourself on the earth . Both of these methods can help you quiet your mind chatter and shift into a more alpha-dominant brain pattern.

Getting in the habit of centering yourself before approaching a problem is perhaps the most powerful creative problem-solving technique. It can greatly assist you in taking a 30,000-foot view of our problem as well.

Creative Problem-Solving Tools

We referenced numerous problem-solving tools in the above examples including:

• Roger von Oech’s Creative Whack Pack (a deck of cards with 64 creative strategies)
• Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats method
• Mind mapping (see Tony Buzan’s How to Mind Map or research online)
• Brainwave entrainment (download free samples on iAwake or try your luck online)
• All of the mind-altering methods under “Alter Your State of Consciousness”

If you’re looking for problem-solving tools for a business/group context, in addition to the Six Thinking Hats, you might also try:

SWOT Analysis

Brainwriting.

Let’s have a quick look at each of these tools.

SWOT analysis is an excellent tool for business owners to help them understand their competitive landscape and make important business decisions. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. SWOT analysis is a practical strategic planning tool for businesses and it can be an effective problem-solving tool for your business.

Five Whys sometimes helps identify the root cause of the problem when it’s not clearly understood. You start by stating the problem as you understand it. Then you ask, “Why?” (For example, why is this occurring? ) As the tool’s name implies, you ask Why questions five times in total.

Brainwriting is a form of brainstorming where individuals generate ideas on their own before meeting to discuss them as a group. For a host of psychological reasons, this is often a superior way of approaching problem-solving in the workplace. Combining brainwriting with the Six Thinking Hats method can be even more powerful.

Using These Creative Problem-Solving Tools

All of the techniques and tools above represent creative problem-solving methods.

These examples illustrate that there are numerous pathways to get the answers we seek.

Some pathways, however, are more effective than others. The key is to experiment with various methods to uncover which ones work best for you .

Different methods will be more effective in different contexts.

Here, wisdom and intuition come into play. Over time, your connection with your inner guide improves and creative problem-solving becomes a more spontaneous process.

Recap: Creative Problem-Solving Techniques

Creative problem-solving is a skill based on the development of divergent thinking combined with altering our state of consciousness.

Due to our early conditioning, our “normal” waking state of consciousness is often filled with biases, limitations, blind spots, and negativity. This causes us to perceive problems rigidly.

When we get “stuck” it’s because our minds are fixed on a limited number of options.

To get “unstuck,” we just need to alter our state of consciousness and examine our problems from various perspectives, which is what the above creative problem-solving techniques are designed to do.

The more you play with these techniques, the more they become second nature to you.

You may find that each technique begins to play off the other. Then, the art and subtleties of the discovery process begin to emerge.

Enjoy solving your next problem!

How to Access Your Imagination

Peak Experiences: A Complete Guide  

How to Restore Your Circadian Rhythm

About the Author

Scott Jeffrey is the founder of CEOsage, a self-leadership resource publishing in-depth guides read by millions of self-actualizing individuals. He writes about self-development, practical psychology, Eastern philosophy, and integrated practices. For 25 years, Scott was a business coach to high-performing entrepreneurs, CEOs, and best-selling authors. He's the author of four books including Creativity Revealed .

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Some great ideas here. I am particularly intrigued by the "walk away" idea fulfilling the wanderer archetype. While counter intuitive, in my experience, walking away lets my mind develop subconcious connections that are sometimes the best. Sort of like letting my brain do the work instead of me! Bravo!

Todd Alexander

Thanks for your comments, Todd. It seems as though he need to train and remind ourselves to "walk away" because the mind thinks it can push its way through the problem.

How many times does it take for us to "absolutely know" that answers answer themselves when we take a break from forceful problem-solving and walk into the creative nature zone?! ;) The solution presents itself when we let go.

Great Post, Scott!

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Who are the seven problem solving superheroes in your group.

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The Seven Problem Solving Superheroes

This article was co-authored with Trevor Haldenby, a Canadian futurist with 20 years of experience in strategic foresight, business innovation, and digital storytelling.

When large groups of people set out to solve problems, set plans, or make important decisions, there are seven uncommon “superhero” personas that will have an inordinately positive impact on the group’s results. We know this because we’ve watched people who fit these archetypes work wonders within groups time and again.

Our advice is to find these seven superheroes in and around your organization—or when you’re adding new talent to your team—and involve them heavily in committees, think tanks, councils, and other high-stakes problem solving situations, whether they naturally belong in those situations or not. That said, finding them isn’t always easy, so become familiar with what you’re looking for and actively seek them out. They’re well worth the effort.

Much of our thinking in this area builds on the ideas of Socionics — a collection of theories of personality typing and information processing that evolved from the work of psychologist Carl Jung, and bears a similarity to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The primary difference is that while MBTI tends to look at personas in isolation, Socionics emphasizes the ripple effects of specific personas in large group and team environments.

Here are The Seven Superheroes of Group Problem Solving

1. the newbie.

This person has joined the team in the last 6 months and is new to the challenge they are being brought in to help solve. As they are still trying to find their way within the organization, they won’t necessarily know what not to ask, so they will help expose new ideas and opportunities that the veterans have let blend into the background.

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What’s unique about The Newbie is that they’re confident enough to reveal to others what they don’t know by asking great questions (with or without tact), and persisting until they’ve heard reasonable answers. By doing so, they give the whole group an opportunity to reflect on what’s really going on in the organization, and what they’ve forgotten to notice.

You might also know this person as:

• The Consul (ESFJ)
• The Adventurer (ISFP)
• The Advocate (INFJ)

Be careful, this person can be mistaken for the “Nepotistic Nuisance”, a grandchild of the CEO who has been brought straight into the organization from business school without yet understanding the domain or how to contribute to group dialogue.

2. The Agitator

This person has no filter, no fear of questioning authority, and no hesitation when it comes to herding sacred cows into the room with the elephants. The Agitator is a s**t-disturber who isn’t afraid to call others out on their vagueness or complicity with status quo ideas. They could be an outsider with a different kind of knowledge from the rest of the group, who will get a few dirty looks but ultimately provide a valuable reality-checking function to the network.

• The Debater (ENTP)

Be careful not to confuse this person with the “Complainer”, who is only there to throw up roadblocks like “Management will never let this happen” or “We just don’t have time to discuss that.”

3. The Poet

This person knows how to tell a great story about the epic journey the group is on and to weave their shared goals into an enviable destiny, The Poet reminds people of the uniqueness and the fleetingness of the opportunity to cut through the challenge. They bring a high-level view and push others to think bigger, and, most importantly, they have a genuine talent for coining catchphrases and reframing ideas and insights into memorable narratives.

While they may seem like an aesthete, what truly sets The Poet apart is that they also have a keen business sense and a powerful ability to intuit strategy and stakeholder needs.

• The Protagonist (ENFJ)
• The Mediator (INFP)
• The Entertainer (ESFP)

Be careful not to confuse this person with the “Beat Poet”, someone who will regurgitate the words of others into an indecipherable stew of buzzwords and bad metaphors.

4. The Codebreaker

This person doodles causal loops, thinks in fractals, and probably dreams in system diagrams. They routinely see patterns others miss and can juggle both micro and macro lenses with ease. They may spend their free time doing crosswords, room escapes, or hanging out at the board game café, but it all comes in handy when you need someone to crunch the numbers and put quantitative values into the subtitles of the big picture ideas.

• The Logician (INFP)
• The Logistician (ISTJ)
• The Virtuoso (ISTP)

Be careful not to confuse this person with the “Hackademic”, someone who uses lots of ten-cent words and blusters through an endless series of framework diagrams, but has never figured out how to make their ideas run in the real world.

5. The Intrapreneur

Whenever there’s a chance to break new ground and test an idea, this person is the first to talk about putting a business plan and resource development strategy behind it.

They see the organization as a startup factory that should be producing more of itself and experimenting along the way. The Intrapreneur is an organizer of people and ideas, and an accelerator of opportunities.

• The Entrepreneur (ESTP)
• The Commander (ENTJ)
• The Architect (INTJ)

Be careful not to confuse this person with the “Impulse Shopper”, who tends to fall in love with a new idea the minute they hear it, but fails to follow-through with rigor and vigor on the hard work that needs to be done to confirm or deny its potential.

6. The Scientist

This person is always looking for a way to validate the headstrong and heartfelt recommendations of a group by recommending pilot experiments and stage-gate processes for iterating and improving on the solution: How do we know what is truly true, and how could we stress-test our recommendations?

Driven by certainty in an uncertain world, the Scientist is armed with tools to get from hypothesis to proof. They bring a micro lens, and the ability to pull a complex problem into pieces for more manageable study.

Be careful not to confuse this person with the “Evidence Vampire”, who sucks the passion out of every argument by demanding validating evidence.

7. The Empath

Few people will feel comfortable talking about their feelings…until this person talks about their feelings. You need to populate your network with at least one emotional anchor. The Empath is the ultimate people-person, with high emotional intelligence and the ability to shepherd even the largest groups to clarity around their goals without getting too bossy. They know how to listen, how to ask the personal questions that really matter, how to motivate people, and how to acknowledge their great work. They are driven to understand, engage, and amplify the effort of others.

• The Defender (ISFJ)
• The Campaigner (ENFP)

Be careful not to confuse this person with the “Avoider”, who fears conflict and will try to put a halt to a frank conversation just when it’s starting to become productively uncomfortable.

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Building Capacity for Creativity: Rediscovering the Inner “Superhero” as a Mechanism for Developing a Creative Mindset for Entrepreneurial Problem-Solving

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What Is Creative Problem-Solving & Why Is It Important?

• 01 Feb 2022

One of the biggest hindrances to innovation is complacency—it can be more comfortable to do what you know than venture into the unknown. Business leaders can overcome this barrier by mobilizing creative team members and providing space to innovate.

There are several tools you can use to encourage creativity in the workplace. Creative problem-solving is one of them, which facilitates the development of innovative solutions to difficult problems.

Here’s an overview of creative problem-solving and why it’s important in business.

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What Is Creative Problem-Solving?

Research is necessary when solving a problem. But there are situations where a problem’s specific cause is difficult to pinpoint. This can occur when there’s not enough time to narrow down the problem’s source or there are differing opinions about its root cause.

In such cases, you can use creative problem-solving , which allows you to explore potential solutions regardless of whether a problem has been defined.

Creative problem-solving is less structured than other innovation processes and encourages exploring open-ended solutions. It also focuses on developing new perspectives and fostering creativity in the workplace . Its benefits include:

• Finding creative solutions to complex problems : User research can insufficiently illustrate a situation’s complexity. While other innovation processes rely on this information, creative problem-solving can yield solutions without it.
• Adapting to change : Business is constantly changing, and business leaders need to adapt. Creative problem-solving helps overcome unforeseen challenges and find solutions to unconventional problems.
• Fueling innovation and growth : In addition to solutions, creative problem-solving can spark innovative ideas that drive company growth. These ideas can lead to new product lines, services, or a modified operations structure that improves efficiency.

Creative problem-solving is traditionally based on the following key principles :

1. Balance Divergent and Convergent Thinking

Creative problem-solving uses two primary tools to find solutions: divergence and convergence. Divergence generates ideas in response to a problem, while convergence narrows them down to a shortlist. It balances these two practices and turns ideas into concrete solutions.

2. Reframe Problems as Questions

By framing problems as questions, you shift from focusing on obstacles to solutions. This provides the freedom to brainstorm potential ideas.

3. Defer Judgment of Ideas

When brainstorming, it can be natural to reject or accept ideas right away. Yet, immediate judgments interfere with the idea generation process. Even ideas that seem implausible can turn into outstanding innovations upon further exploration and development.

4. Focus on "Yes, And" Instead of "No, But"

Using negative words like "no" discourages creative thinking. Instead, use positive language to build and maintain an environment that fosters the development of creative and innovative ideas.

Creative Problem-Solving and Design Thinking

Whereas creative problem-solving facilitates developing innovative ideas through a less structured workflow, design thinking takes a far more organized approach.

Design thinking is a human-centered, solutions-based process that fosters the ideation and development of solutions. In the online course Design Thinking and Innovation , Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar leverages a four-phase framework to explain design thinking.

The four stages are:

• Clarify: The clarification stage allows you to empathize with the user and identify problems. Observations and insights are informed by thorough research. Findings are then reframed as problem statements or questions.
• Ideate: Ideation is the process of coming up with innovative ideas. The divergence of ideas involved with creative problem-solving is a major focus.
• Develop: In the development stage, ideas evolve into experiments and tests. Ideas converge and are explored through prototyping and open critique.
• Implement: Implementation involves continuing to test and experiment to refine the solution and encourage its adoption.

Creative problem-solving primarily operates in the ideate phase of design thinking but can be applied to others. This is because design thinking is an iterative process that moves between the stages as ideas are generated and pursued. This is normal and encouraged, as innovation requires exploring multiple ideas.

Creative Problem-Solving Tools

While there are many useful tools in the creative problem-solving process, here are three you should know:

Creating a Problem Story

One way to innovate is by creating a story about a problem to understand how it affects users and what solutions best fit their needs. Here are the steps you need to take to use this tool properly.

1. Identify a UDP

Create a problem story to identify the undesired phenomena (UDP). For example, consider a company that produces printers that overheat. In this case, the UDP is "our printers overheat."

2. Move Forward in Time

To move forward in time, ask: “Why is this a problem?” For example, minor damage could be one result of the machines overheating. In more extreme cases, printers may catch fire. Don't be afraid to create multiple problem stories if you think of more than one UDP.

3. Move Backward in Time

To move backward in time, ask: “What caused this UDP?” If you can't identify the root problem, think about what typically causes the UDP to occur. For the overheating printers, overuse could be a cause.

Following the three-step framework above helps illustrate a clear problem story:

• The printer is overused.
• The printer overheats.
• The printer breaks down.

You can extend the problem story in either direction if you think of additional cause-and-effect relationships.

4. Break the Chains

By this point, you’ll have multiple UDP storylines. Take two that are similar and focus on breaking the chains connecting them. This can be accomplished through inversion or neutralization.

• Inversion: Inversion changes the relationship between two UDPs so the cause is the same but the effect is the opposite. For example, if the UDP is "the more X happens, the more likely Y is to happen," inversion changes the equation to "the more X happens, the less likely Y is to happen." Using the printer example, inversion would consider: "What if the more a printer is used, the less likely it’s going to overheat?" Innovation requires an open mind. Just because a solution initially seems unlikely doesn't mean it can't be pursued further or spark additional ideas.
• Neutralization: Neutralization completely eliminates the cause-and-effect relationship between X and Y. This changes the above equation to "the more or less X happens has no effect on Y." In the case of the printers, neutralization would rephrase the relationship to "the more or less a printer is used has no effect on whether it overheats."

Even if creating a problem story doesn't provide a solution, it can offer useful context to users’ problems and additional ideas to be explored. Given that divergence is one of the fundamental practices of creative problem-solving, it’s a good idea to incorporate it into each tool you use.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a tool that can be highly effective when guided by the iterative qualities of the design thinking process. It involves openly discussing and debating ideas and topics in a group setting. This facilitates idea generation and exploration as different team members consider the same concept from multiple perspectives.

Hosting brainstorming sessions can result in problems, such as groupthink or social loafing. To combat this, leverage a three-step brainstorming method involving divergence and convergence :

• Have each group member come up with as many ideas as possible and write them down to ensure the brainstorming session is productive.
• Continue the divergence of ideas by collectively sharing and exploring each idea as a group. The goal is to create a setting where new ideas are inspired by open discussion.
• Begin the convergence of ideas by narrowing them down to a few explorable options. There’s no "right number of ideas." Don't be afraid to consider exploring all of them, as long as you have the resources to do so.

Alternate Worlds

The alternate worlds tool is an empathetic approach to creative problem-solving. It encourages you to consider how someone in another world would approach your situation.

For example, if you’re concerned that the printers you produce overheat and catch fire, consider how a different industry would approach the problem. How would an automotive expert solve it? How would a firefighter?

Be creative as you consider and research alternate worlds. The purpose is not to nail down a solution right away but to continue the ideation process through diverging and exploring ideas.

Continue Developing Your Skills

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or business leader, learning the ropes of design thinking can be an effective way to build your skills and foster creativity and innovation in any setting.

If you're ready to develop your design thinking and creative problem-solving skills, explore Design Thinking and Innovation , one of our online entrepreneurship and innovation courses. If you aren't sure which course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals.

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Using Superhero Teams to Teach the 4 Cs (Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, Creativity): A 21st Century Approach to the Classroom

David Seelow, PhD©

          The Partnership for 21 st Century Education 1 decided upon the 4 Cs as the framework for students in the new century with an emphasis on how technology can enable and enhance these 4 skills:

• Critical Thinking
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Creativity.

Although the framework has been designed to guide instruction for students in grades K-12, these 4 skills are equally applicable to higher education and, furthermore, the skills are those often sought after by employers, who often see these 4Cs inadequately demonstrated by recent college graduates . 2 Consequently, finding new ways to cultivate and reinforce these skills remains critical in all disciplines. Ironically, my experience suggests that technology’s role might be more paradoxical than the technophiles want us to think. I would argue that because of technology the 4 Cs are most needed. For example, reliance on texting has diminished verbal skills, both spoken and written. Another good example would be that technological acceleration and change demands the skills of innovation more today than ever before.

          The 4 skills are intertwined and teaching them as a suite of skills makes the most sense. The use of superhero teams has proven very successful in my classes and this approach can be applied to any discipline. My class “Superheroes and the Millennial” might be an ideal fit for superhero teams but let me explain how easily the concept and process can be adapted to other courses. The first day of class students form teams which they will remain in for the duration of the semester (I highly recommend teams of 4 or 5 students, but no largere). You can use whatever strategy you normally use to put students into diverse groups. The second week of class each student creates their own unique superhero including the superhero’s power(s), weakness(es), confidants, love interest, alter ego (optional) and costume (optional). This process teaches and encourages creativity. Just as most students today use online avatars and thrive on customizing them, inventing a character serves the same deeply felt personal need. If you prefer students use actual historical figures, then ask them to identity what makes the figure super heroic? What was Winston Churchill’s superpower(s)? His kryptonite? They can also delineate the figures other powers, weaknesses, love interests, possible secret identity, i.e. a private as opposed to a public self.

          Week three the team members assemble in class and form a unique superhero team like The Avengers or Justice League of America. They must explain their individual superheroes to each other and then see how they best fit together by choosing a team name, creating a mission statement and identifying a headquarters. Superhero teams are not confined to fiction, think of the Navy Seals, The Golden State Warriors basketball team, the team working on The Manhattan Project. What makes these historical teams so extraordinary? Each disciple will have many examples of such great teamwork and helping students understand the value of teams is indispensable. The point of using The Avengers as a starting point is the given reality that students today are very familiar with such superheroes through blockbuster movies, video games, TV shows and the like. Even if the fictional superhero is just a starting point to launch historic super teams in the class, giving students an easily recognizable frame of reference provided by popular culture will jump start their creativity and motivate active learning.

          This team forming exercise further encourages creativity, but now combined with collaboration and communication. In the K-12 environment teachers are required to have studied pedagogy that includes cooperative learning, but that is not often the case with professors, which may be one reason group learning is not used as often as it could be in higher education. Additionally, I have found in higher education much more than in high school, students are reluctant to work in teams. They often give the reason of not wanting to carry an unfair burden of the work, but college students must learn to work more as a team and understand the value of interdependence to success because when they graduate almost every career will expect graduates to work on projects as part of a complex, often diverse team. Today, the team might easily be geographically diverse too. For instance, in comics, the writer Brian Michael Bendis often collaborates with the artist Sara Pichelli who lives in Italy (they worked on Ultimate Spider-Man together).   I stress the growing importance of remote teams to underscore the necessity of students communicating with each other outside of class (many students offer totally unacceptable excuses for “we could not find a time or place to meet”).

          Using historical figures can add depth to a team assignment. For instance, a course on International Relations where teams are asked to tackle a middle eastern problem like the crisis in Syria students could choose which officials are best suited to address the problem. The students will need to do research and explain their choices. One team might choose an Ambassador, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the President, and an academic specializing in the area. Another team might prefer the Joint Chiefs of Staff over the Secretary of Defense. Regardless, the choices demand thought and consideration of how people communicate and work together. A second layer to the choice would be to ask students to choose the figures they want to fulfill each role. The power of student choice cannot be overestimated. Finally, you can add a historical dimension to the superhero team by having students choose historical figures to address a current problem. Regardless, the very formation of such teams serves the 4 Cs very well.

          The last step in the process would be to give the superhero team a specific problem to tackle. The problem should directly engage the course subject matter and outcomes. The problem solving dimension requires critical thinking at its deepest level, but now combined with communication, collaboration and creativity. In my course, I presented all the teams with the problem of the opioid crisis- a public health issue and asked each team to address how they would fight a specific aspect of the problem through the creation of an original comic book. Each team was assigned a supervillain who represented an aspect of the crisis. For example, Dr. O represented physicians over prescribing opioid pain killers such as Oxycontin. Another team was assigned The Enabler, a figure who meant good, but perpetuated a substance user’s destructive behavior. By assigning each team a different aspect of the problem the class learned how complex problems can be, and the necessity of using multiple skills as well as each other each to address the problem.

          Regardless of the subject, you teach the use of superhero team as fictional or historical will prove a valuable aid to teaching Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, Communication, and Creativity. Assessing the 4 Cs requires an emphasis on project based learning with the focus on creative problem solving. You cannot assess teamwork on a test that every student takes as an individual. Deep learning, skill development and workplace readiness are best served in an authentic “real world” environment even if that “real world” problem requires the deployment of superhero teams!

1. For an overview and details about the Partnership for 21 st Century Learning see the website Battelle for Kids at: http://www.battelleforkids.org/networks/p21 . The National Education Association has a free guide for teachers in the K-12 space to help teach the 4 Cs in different disciplines at different grade levels. The guide also defines each of the the4 Cs in depth. “Preparing 21 st Century Students for a Global Society: An Educators Guide to the “Four Cs,” National Education Association , http://www.nea.org/tools/52217.htm , PDF, retrieved 7/10/2019, Print.

2. There are many publications that address the gap between the content knowledge college students possess and the work place skills they often lack. One short, but good example is, Karsten Straus, “These Are The Skills Bosses Say New College Grads Do Not Have,” Forbes , https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2016/05/17/these-are-the-skills-bosses-say-new-college-grads-do-not-have/#76968b515491 , May 17, 2016, retrieved 7/18/2019, Web.

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What is creative problem-solving?

Table of Contents

An introduction to creative problem-solving.

Creative problem-solving is an essential skill that goes beyond basic brainstorming . It entails a holistic approach to challenges, melding logical processes with imaginative techniques to conceive innovative solutions. As our world becomes increasingly complex and interconnected, the ability to think creatively and solve problems with fresh perspectives becomes invaluable for individuals, businesses, and communities alike.

Importance of divergent and convergent thinking

At the heart of creative problem-solving lies the balance between divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking encourages free-flowing, unrestricted ideation, leading to a plethora of potential solutions. Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is about narrowing down those options to find the most viable solution. This dual approach ensures both breadth and depth in the problem-solving process.

Emphasis on collaboration and diverse perspectives

No single perspective has a monopoly on insight. Collaborating with individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise offers a richer tapestry of ideas. Embracing diverse perspectives not only broadens the pool of solutions but also ensures more holistic and well-rounded outcomes.

Nurturing a risk-taking and experimental mindset

The fear of failure can be the most significant barrier to any undertaking. It's essential to foster an environment where risk-taking and experimentation are celebrated. This involves viewing failures not as setbacks but as invaluable learning experiences that pave the way for eventual success.

The role of intuition and lateral thinking

Sometimes, the path to a solution is not linear. Lateral thinking and intuition allow for making connections between seemingly unrelated elements. These 'eureka' moments often lead to breakthrough solutions that conventional methods might overlook.

Stages of the creative problem-solving process

The creative problem-solving process is typically broken down into several stages. Each stage plays a crucial role in understanding, addressing, and resolving challenges in innovative ways.

Clarifying: Understanding the real problem or challenge

Before diving into solutions, one must first understand the problem at its core. This involves asking probing questions, gathering data, and viewing the challenge from various angles. A clear comprehension of the problem ensures that effort and resources are channeled correctly.

Ideating: Generating diverse and multiple solutions

Once the problem is clarified, the focus shifts to generating as many solutions as possible. This stage champions quantity over quality, as the aim is to explore the breadth of possibilities without immediately passing judgment.

Developing: Refining and honing promising solutions

With a list of potential solutions in hand, it's time to refine and develop the most promising ones. This involves evaluating each idea's feasibility, potential impact, and any associated risks, then enhancing or combining solutions to maximize effectiveness.

Implementing: Acting on the best solutions

Once a solution has been honed, it's time to put it into action. This involves planning, allocating resources, and monitoring the results to ensure the solution is effectively addressing the problem.

Techniques for creative problem-solving

Solving complex problems in a fresh way can be a daunting task to start on. Here are a few techniques that can help kickstart the process:

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a widely-used technique that involves generating as many ideas as possible within a set timeframe. Variants like brainwriting (where ideas are written down rather than spoken) and reverse brainstorming (thinking of ways to cause the problem) can offer fresh perspectives and ensure broader participation.

Mind mapping

Mind mapping is a visual tool that helps structure information, making connections between disparate pieces of data. It is particularly useful in organizing thoughts, visualizing relationships, and ensuring a comprehensive approach to a problem.

SCAMPER technique

SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. This technique prompts individuals to look at existing products, services, or processes in new ways, leading to innovative solutions.

Benefits of creative problem-solving

Creative problem-solving offers numerous benefits, both at the individual and organizational levels. Some of the most prominent advantages include:

Finding novel solutions to old problems

Traditional problems that have resisted conventional solutions often succumb to creative approaches. By looking at challenges from fresh angles and blending different techniques, we can unlock novel solutions previously deemed impossible.

Enhanced adaptability in changing environments

In our rapidly evolving world, the ability to adapt is critical. Creative problem-solving equips individuals and organizations with the agility to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring resilience and longevity.

Building collaborative and innovative teams

Teams that embrace creative problem-solving tend to be more collaborative and innovative. They value diversity of thought, are open to experimentation, and are more likely to challenge the status quo, leading to groundbreaking results.

Fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement

Creative problem-solving is not just about finding solutions; it's also about continuous learning and improvement. By encouraging an environment of curiosity and exploration, organizations can ensure that they are always at the cutting edge, ready to tackle future challenges head-on.

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Creative Thinking: Innovative Solutions to Complex Challenges

Learn how to grow a culture of creativity to innovate competitive solutions.

October 16, 2024

8:30 AM – 4:30 PM ET

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$2,990 Programs fill quickly — free cancellation up to 14 days prior

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October 8, 2024

Overview: Creative Thinking Skills Course

The tech breakthrough that makes smartphones irrelevant, a new viral ad campaign, your company’s next big revenue generator — ideas like these could be sitting in your brain; all you need are the creative thinking skills and strategies to pull them out.

This interactive program focuses explicitly on the creative thinking skills you need to solve complex problems and design innovative solutions. Learn how to transform your thinking from the standard “why can’t we” to the powerful “how might we.” Crack the code on how to consistently leverage your team’s creative potential in order to drive innovation within your organization. Explore how to build a climate for innovation, remove barriers to creativity, cultivate courage, and create more agile, proactive, and inspired teams.

You will leave this program with new ideas about how to think more productively and how to introduce creative thinking skills into your organization. You can apply key takeaways immediately to implement a new leadership vision, inspire renewed enthusiasm, and enjoy the skills and tools to tackle challenges and seize opportunities.

Innovation experts Anne Manning and Susan Robertson bring to this highly-interactive and powerful program their decades of experience promoting corporate innovation, teaching the art of creative problem solving, and applying the principles of brain science to solve complex challenges.

Who Should Take Creative Thinking Skills Training?

This program is ideal for leaders with at least 3 years of management experience. It is designed for leaders who want to develop new strategies, frameworks, and tools for creative problem solving. Whether you are a team lead, project manager, sales director, or executive, you’ll learn powerful tools to lead your team and your organization to create innovative solutions to complex challenges.

All participants will earn a Certificate of Participation from the Harvard Division of Continuing Education.

Benefits of Creative Thinking Skills Training

The goal of this creative thinking program is to help you develop the strategic concepts and tactical skills to lead creative problem solving for your team and your organization. You will learn to:

• Retrain your brain to avoid negative cognitive biases and long-held beliefs and myths that sabotage creative problem solving and innovation
• Become a more nimble, proactive, and inspired thinker and leader
• Create the type of organizational culture that supports collaboration and nurtures rather than kills ideas
• Gain a practical toolkit for solving the “unsolvable” by incorporating creative thinking into day-to-day processes
• Understand cognitive preferences (yours and others’) to adapt the creative thinking process and drive your team’s success
• Develop techniques that promote effective brainstorming and enable you to reframe problems in a way that inspires innovative solutions

The curriculum in this highly interactive program utilizes research-based methodologies and techniques to build creative thinking skills and stimulate creative problem solving.

Through intensive group discussions and small-group exercises, you will focus on topics such as:

• The Creative Problem Solving process: a researched, learnable, repeatable process for uncovering new and useful ideas. This process includes a “how to” on clarifying, ideating, developing, and implementing new solutions to intractable problems
• The cognitive preferences that drive how we approach problems, and how to leverage those cognitive preferences for individual and team success
• How to develop—and implement— a methodology that overcomes barriers to innovative thinking and fosters the generation of new ideas, strategies, and techniques
• The role of language, including asking the right questions, in reframing problems, challenging assumptions, and driving successful creative problem solving
• Fostering a culture that values, nurtures, and rewards creative solutions

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• Jul 5, 2023

Creative Ways to Use Superheroes in Play Therapy

Updated: Jul 18, 2023

Having kids create their own superheroes can be a healing activity for children, especially those who have experienced trauma . It can be insightful to see what kind of superhero they choose. What superpowers would they have? Who would they rescue? What community would they serve? How old were they when they became a superhero?

Kids who have experienced trauma often have a sense of powerlessness. They desire to be strong and powerful so that they don't become a victim again. Role-playing through using superheroes can help them feel that sense of strength to overcome hard things. You can use the stories that are told to help kids develop problem-solving skills and to challenge irrational thoughts. Depending on your primary counseling theory, you can use these tools in many different ways.

The following ideas offer a variety of ways to use superheroes in play therapy. The ideas include crafts, games, exercises, and play ideas.

Pipe Cleaner Superheroes

by Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Aren't these the cutest? The supplies are cheap and accessible and this craft will lend itself well to allowing kids to come up with their own ideas. These are made from pipe cleaners, felt , beads, wooden beads for the heads, staws, and googly eyes. Visit the site for details on how to assemble them.

Superhero Small World

by Fun Learning for Kids

This is a fun idea if you have space for the boxes. She created buildings with the boxes and placed them on a play mat with roads to make them look like a city. I have the same mat in my office. I think it was $6 at Ikea. You can raid your sand tray toys for superhero figurines or use Lego people. You could also add toy cars to the mix.

Related Post: Why Play Games in Therapy?

Make Your Own Superhero Kit

by Sara J Creations

I like this one for several reasons. One is that it gives kids a preset amount of supplies to work with. Some kids can completely drain your supplies if they are not limited. Secondly, it's a totally blank slate with no standard for how the superhero "should" look. Thirdly, it's a good mix of different textures and colors making it a sensory experience. Finally, a LOT can happen while kids are creating. Some like to chat and process and others like to focus on the task at hand. But, in the end, you have a superhero you get to discuss.

Even Superheroes Have Bad Days

By WholeHearted School Counseling

This is a game show-style game that is created to use with the book by Shelly Becker. I love how it normalizes that everyone has bad days and everyone has to learn how to cope with difficulties. The game that follows the story drives home the concepts and personalizes the experience for kids.

No-Sew Superhero Capes

by Mas and Pas

While it is fun playing with superheroes, it is even more fun to be one! These are simple capes you can make with no sewing involved. They are made from colored T-shirts with some added velcro and felt for the designs you can glue on. Follow the link to get the instructions.

Superhero Puppet Craft

by Messy Little Monster

These are fun little puppets you can use to engage in superhero play. They are made with common craft supplies that you likely have on hand. She offers a free printable for the superhero symbols. If you enjoy puppets, don't miss my post with TONS of ideas.

Superhero Games

by Britni Vigil

This post has a bunch of superhero game ideas. A Hulk game has 2 players pop a balloon using a "Hulk Smash" where each person uses one had to smash the balloon between them. There are also games for Black Panther, Captain America, Iron Man, and many more. It's definitely worth checking out. These would be great for group activities.

Superhero Play Dough Activity

I don't know why I don't think of mixing activities more often. With this one, get out your superheroes and your play dough and let the kids run with creativity. I love the picture of the boy enclosing the superhero in the play dough. There are so many ways to use this in storytelling or processing themes.

Pool Noodle Poppers

by The Joys of Boys

Superheroes need weapons. This one looks easy to make and would be loads of fun. You cut up pool noodles and use balloons to launch pom poms.

Superhero Matching / Memory Game

by Diary of a Real Housewife

This is a free printable game that you can play while working on all of your superhero therapy strategies. It is cute and would make a fun, quick game.

Superhero Yoga Poses

by Pink Oatmeal

For kids who need an energy release, these yoga poses could be really fun. Any type of exercise can help release pent-up emotions as well as release endorphins. And kids have so much energy! They are always in need of an outlet.

Related Post: Counseling Interventions for Teaching Coping Skills

Superhero Scavenger Hunt

Grab your free printable scavenger hunt from the link above. This would be fun for younger kids. The directions on the site call for using it when reading comics or watching movies, but it would also be fun to print a set and hide the characters around the office for the kids to seek out.

Superhero Staw Shooter

by Team Cartwright

This is a fun idea that is cost-effective. Follow the link above for the free printable superheroes to attach to the straw for this game. The goal is to see who can launch their superhero the furthest.

Printable Superhero Bingo

by Fireflies and Mud Pies

This printable comes with 13 unique cards and 1 calling card. I like the idea of printing and laminating the cards so that you can use dry-erase markers on it. Have you ever used beans and then had a kid get mad and pound the table? Ugh. Not good.

Related Post: Creative Ways to Use Dinosaurs in Play Therapy

Superhero Mask Templates

by Itsy Bitsy Fun

These are some free mask templates to help kids individualize their own superheroes. Some are in full color and some are blank.

Superhero Bracelets

by The Activity Mom

This is an interactive activity for those kids who love to take something home with them. They can use beads the same color as their favorite superhero to make a bracelet to help them remember their favorite superhero's strengths.

Avengers Finger Puppets

by Big Family Blessings

These finger puppets are awesome! The price is right at free. Follow the link to get your copy and to make these adorable little puppets.

Free Printable Tic-Tac-Toe

by The Shirley Journey

This takes tic-tac-toe up a notch. It is a fun design that the kids will love.

I hope you enjoy these superhero ideas. I'd love to hear your favorite ways to use superheroes or to hear how some of these ideas worked out. Enjoy!

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Creative Problem Solving for the 21st Century: The Go-To Guide

Kevin Abdulrahman

Motivaitonal Keynote Speaker Public Speaking Coach to CEOS, World Leaders & Presidents

What Exactly Is Creativity?

Why does it matter? What is unique or necessary about creative problem solving today?

Creativity is often equated with artistic ability–music, painting, drawing, design, dance–and by the time we reach adulthood, many of us believe we are “not that creative.”

In reality, though, creativity is a process that can be used for absolutely any field or endeavor: business, education, finance, science, and even in your daily personal life.

In order to navigate the globalized Digital Information Age in all its speed and uncertainty, we need to adopt not only a new view of creativity, but also new problem solving approaches that are leading-edge and innovative rather than based on historical wisdom.

These approaches rely more heavily on tapping the resources of your nonconscious mind and developing your intuition–the latent faculties that we have not been taught how to use by our educational systems and by mainstream societies.

In this Go-To Guide on Creative Problem Solving for the 21st Century, you will learn how the historical conception of creativity has limited the ways in which we go about solving problems today, as well as new, broader definitions of creativity and intelligence that are more appropriate for 21st-century problem solving.

You will also learn the steps of the creative process, how to access your creative genius through your multiple intelligences, altered states and several creative problem-solving techniques for small and large scale problems.

How to Bust Out of the Industrial Model and Release Your Creative Genius

How to Engage the Creative Process: An Introduction

How to Utilize Your Multiple Intelligences

How to Access Altered States and Flow for Creative Breakthroughs

How to Use the Natural Brilliance Model for Paradoxical Problems

How to Use the Wind Tunnel and Other Techniques

How the Natural World Makes You Massively Creative

The Creative Process Revisited: How to Avoid Self-Sabotage

HOW TO BUST OUT OF THE INDUSTRIAL MODEL AND RELEASE YOUR CREATIVE GENIUS

What is creativity, and how did our historical social models influence our view of it? In this chapter you’ll learn how our typical understanding and practical application of creativity was developed within the Industrial Model, and why this is no longer effective for 21st-century creative problem solving.

The Industrial Model

Though we are firmly in the Information or Digital Age, much of our educational models–both in schools and in the broader ways our societies create citizens–remain in the Industrial Paradigm. The Industrial Model developed with the Industrial Revolution, and emphasized efficiency and conformity, not creativity. This model is how we ended up with the 9-5 workday schedule.

Aside from the way societies structured the workday, our school systems focused heavily on math, science and language which were then measured in aptitude tests. School curriculum today is still largely divided into specialist segments, especially in high schools, and also divided by age and standardized testing.

This structure is beneficial for those whose strength is conventional academic work, but not for many who will need to apply their intelligence and creativity in vastly diverse fields and occupations. In fact today, we see more and more the declining value of college degrees.

How we define intelligence largely came from the Enlightenment influences of logic and critical reasoning, which were viewed as superior to feeling and emotion. These values shaped mass education to meet the demands of the Industrial Revolution, which required quick selection and assessment. This is when IQ tests that could measure “real intelligence” emerged.

In 1916, Lewis Terman of Stanford University published the revised Stanford-Binet test, which is the basis for the modern IQ test, and was actually part of the eugenics movement to weed out entire sectors of the population.

Holistic Education

Luckily today, many alternative holistic educational models are slowly emerging around the globe, and many colleges and universities no longer put as much weight on aptitude or entrance exams because they only present a small sliver of human intelligence and creative potential.

And although these new educational models are emerging, the old Industrial mindset remains deep-seated in our collective psyche: the way to get things done is to be efficient, logical and analytical by looking at what history has taught us and then applying that wisdom to present-day situations. This approach is largely left-brain hemisphere oriented.

The primary problem with this approach is that our present day circumstances are vastly different than anything we’ve seen before.

In Future Shock published in the 1970s, Alvin Toffler discussed the massive social and technological changes that would take place in our world. Now that we are fully immersed in these changes, we recognize that no other period in human history matches the scale, speed or global complexity of the changes and challenges we have now.

We can’t know what the future will be like, and, therefore, looking to the past or our history is not the best approach if we want to create something new and revolutionary.

A New View of Intelligence and Creativity

In response to this limited Industrial view of intelligence, many theorists developed alternative and much more comprehensive views of intelligence and creativity. Howard Gardner, for instance, developed the theory of Multiple Intelligences, which we will cover in chapter three of this guide.

Robert Cooper, author of The Other 90% , found that intelligence doesn’t only happen in our brains; it’s in our hearts and guts. Many researchers are now finding that the neurological networks of our enteric nervous system in our intestinal tract and heart are far more sensitive and intelligent than our physical brains. Our hearts and guts sense feeling and emotion before our brains can register it.

Sadly though, many people do not think they are creative, believing that creativity is relegated to the arts and design. They think creativity and intelligence are two unrelated things. With these emerging perspectives such as Gardner’s and Cooper’s, however, the split between creativity and intelligence is slowly healing.

According to Sir Ken Robinson, TED speaker on education and creativity, and an international consultant on education in the arts, creativity is “the process of having original ideas that have value.” Creativity is applied imagination. It can be applied to music, dance, theater, math, science, business, relationships or any area of existence.

Creativity in Collaboration

In his book The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything , Robinson explains that creativity also takes place within domains and fields. A domain is the kind of activity or discipline. Examples include acting, music, business, ballet, physics, poetry, teaching, comedy and many more. A field refers to others engaged with it, such as other actors or teachers or scientists.

Robinson also highlights the importance of creative teams, which need to be diverse. In Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration , Warren Bennis and Pat Ward Biederman discuss Great Groups, or collections of people with similar interests who create something greater than any could create individually. There is an alchemy of synergy within these groups. Healthy peer pressure, plus a commitment to excellence drive the creative outcomes of the group. Each individual’s strengths complement the others’.

Robinson also emphasizes the importance of mentors in creativity, as they serve four crucial roles: Recognition, Encouragement, Facilitating and Stretching, or pushing you past your perceived limits.

In the current age, this creative collaboration is essential because creativity, and especially creative problem solving, requires courage. Change can be disconcerting.

Consider those throughout history whose passions were inconsistent with the culture of their time, and may have even required them to break away from their native cultures.

Take Zaha Hadid, for example. Hadid, the first woman ever to win the Pritzker Prize for Architecture, grew up in Baghdad in the 1950s. Baghdad then was more secular and open to Western thought, but still there were no female architect role models there. Hadid moved to London and then America, and was able to develop a revolutionary, risky conceptual style.

Creativity sometimes requires changing environments (whether physically or just in the people you surround yourself with) in order to overcome limitations and maintain your vision in the face of resistance. Each person on the planet possesses a distinct intelligence and creativity, and it is more valuable than ever at this time in history.

HOW TO ENGAGE THE CREATIVE PROCESS: AN INTRODUCTION

Now that you have a clearer view of where models of intelligence and creativity came from, you can choose to adopt a new perspective on your own abilities and potential. In this chapter you’ll learn about the creative process and why the shift out of the left-brain dominant Industrial Model is crucial to creative problem solving in the twenty-first century.

The Creative Process Defined

What is the creative process? This amorphous, dynamic, somewhat unpredictable process has been defined, structured and broken down into various steps by many individuals in an attempt to explain it.

Psychologist and educational philosopher John Dewey likened it to using a wine press in his book Art as Experience . It requires a certain amount of input, resistance, frustration, tension and then a releasing of a flow. It also requires a certain amount of courage to bring it forth.

Novelist Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love f ame defines creative living as a life driven more strongly by curiosity than fear. In her book Big Magic, Gilbert also reminds us to “keep in mind that for most of history people just made things, and they didn’t make such a big freaking deal of it.”

Gilbert’s point is quite valid; creativity and its process is inherent to not only humans, but to the universe itself as it continually brings new life in and out of being.

Ancient Greeks referred to the highest degree of human happiness as eudaimonia , which essentially means “well-daemoned”, or taken care of by an external divine creative force. You may have a sense of this when you’ve found yourself in a flow state, where you can sense it’s not all about you or your doing.

Poetic sentiments aside, however, being creative, creating a new idea, business, or outcome requires focus and courage because true genius often breaks barriers and causes paradigm shifts. In other words, it makes some people really uncomfortable .

So though creating is our human birth right, our ego fear can stop us from bringing it to life.

Yet still, there are steps, intentions and preparations that can be made in order to build a fertile foundation from which creative ideas can emerge. Depending on who you ask, the steps vary, but there are some similarities.

Steps of the Creative Process

Step 1: preparation.

This is an opportunity to define the problem you are trying to solve–whether artistic or more “pragmatic” such as business, science, technology, or any other field, and then doing some research. This step may involve gathering information so that your mind can then begin to get to work on the problem. The research you gather may lead to you redefining the problem more clearly.

Step 2: Incubation

This is the time to let it marinate in your mind. You need to step away from the problem and allow your inner mind to make connections. Your mind will bring together the ideas from your preparation and other information from your life experiences.

Step 3: Illumination

That ah-ha! This is a moment of inspiration, or what some would call revelation when your conscious mind receives the new idea or solution to what you put into your nonconscious mind computer.

Step 4: Evaluation

Here, the answer(s) need to be evaluated before implementing them in the real world. This means consider what other problems the solutions could create. You don’t want to stop at the first answer your mind gives you.

When generating creative solutions, don’t accept the first, second or even third solution generated. Dr. Paul Scheele, a pioneer in Accelerative Learning and Creativity, and co-founder of Learning Strategies Corporation, suggests that you keep going until you come up with at least 11 novel possibilities.

The first three solutions or ideas will make the most sense, but that is because they are coming from “the view of the problem that also makes the most sense.” Scheele emphasizes that “our ideas come from the mental model or problem-solving approach that led us to the unintended consequence we are now trying to resolve.”

Step 5: Implementation

Once you reach your desired solution, it needs to be put into practice to see how it works. It helps to have a view of creativity as being evolutionary rather than an end. Once something is implemented, it will inevitably lead to problems, which means you will always be in the pursuit of improving and pivoting from what you have implemented.

The creative process is largely unpredictable, and you can’t entirely plan for a spontaneous experience. In the following chapters you will learn how to tap into your multiple intelligences and access greater resources through altered states so you can do just that.

HOW TO USE YOUR MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

Intelligence is dynamic, and sometimes new ideas come in fully formed without much work. Usually, though, it is a process that begins with an inkling or an inspiration, but involves evaluation as we noted in the last chapter. It also involves a medium or mixed media of some sort.

Sir Ken Robinson notes that creative thinking involves much more than the frontal lobes and left brain hemisphere. Sometimes our body is the medium through music or dance. In this chapter you’ll learn about the Theory of Multiple Intelligences and how to apply this to your own creative problem solving process.

Multiple Intelligences

Based on over thirty years of research and practice, Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences became widely popular after his book Frames of Mind : The Theory of Multiple Intelligences was first published in 1983. Gardner, the Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, developed the theory in response to the typical view of intelligence as being equated to logical/analytical and linguistic thinking, or that people only have an intellectual capacity.

Gardner explains that you can have multiple capacities, and how we use these capacities is unique to each individual. In light of creative problem solving, this theory also helps elucidate how you naturally receive and process information. It is helpful to be aware of these different “intelligences” so you can tune into spontaneous perceptions you receive. These intelligences tap into emotions and other subtle senses.

While the original theory included eight intelligences, over the years, Gardner has proposed some additional intelligences such as existential intelligence. Here we have listed these nine intelligences.

As you’ll see, the first two intelligences listed are the typical aspects of “intelligence” that were valued in the Industrial Model. Note that these are not either/or intelligences. We all possess every single one, but we typically have some that we are more adept at or naturally engage on a regular basis, no matter what we are doing.

Here are brief summaries of the Intelligences:

People strong in this intelligence are great with words and language. This means you can be great at remembering written and spoken words, you may be a good speller, and you enjoy reading or writing, explaining things or giving speeches.

Logical-Mathematical

These individuals are great with numbers, mathematics, recognizing patterns, abstract and scientific ideas, and like to solve problems.

This intelligence can incorporate a passion, skill and/or understanding of rhythm and musical tones. It means you can think in patterns, rhythms and sounds. It does not mean that you have to be a musician or singer, but perhaps that you greatly appreciate music because you have an embodied understanding of the components that make up music.

Bodily-Kinesthetic

People with this intelligence are adept at moving their bodies, using their hands, have good physical coordination and typically learn and remember things through doing or action. You do not have to be a dancer or athlete. If you cook, are an actor, create art or build an engine with your hands, you are using bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.

Interpersonal

This intelligence is the mark of those who are good with people. If you are a good listener, you are able to empathize with others, and can assess the needs and drives of people around you, you are using interpersonal intelligence.

Intrapersonal

Much like interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal describes the ability to be attuned to emotions, drives and motives, but this time within oneself. Strong intrapersonal intelligence involves the ability to observe and reflect on one’s thoughts and emotions. Simply, this intelligence involves the ability to be very self-aware.

Visual-Spatial

This intelligence is used by anyone who uses maps, pictures, videos, charts or blueprints. Architects and taxi drivers both use visual-spatial intelligence in different ways.

Anyone who has an affinity for the outdoors or understanding the natural world possesses this intelligence. If you are good at categorizing and organizing things based on types, interested in biology or other natural sciences or enjoy camping, you are exercising your naturalist intelligence.

Existential

This intelligence is not one of the original eight, but Gardner suggested it could include the ability to think about big questions such as spirituality, one’s place in the universe or the meaning of life.

Using Your Intelligences for Creative Breakthroughs

Again, these intelligences do not put you into a box as having a “type.” You use many of these intelligences in many different kinds of tasks. If you know you are a visual learner, however, you know that you likely tend to exercise your visual-spatial intelligence.

These intelligences also relate to the creative process and the ways in which your nonconscious mind may feed you new insights or flashes of inspiration.

For instance, music may trigger your creativity if you tend toward musical intelligence, or you may receive inspiration as images in your mind’s eye if you are more visual-spatial. Your bodily-kinesthetic intelligence could deliver to you a bodily-sense of knowing or gut feeling about an idea. Pay attention to what your intelligences are, how you tend to use them in different ways and how your nonconscious mind could subtly deliver you new information.

As you’ve learned about the creative process in the last chapter of this guide, creativity is dynamic and sometimes elusive. It involves a certain degree of spontaneity and illumination on its own terms. You can’t plan for a spontaneous experience, but you can want or intend it, expect it, get out of the way and let it happen.

In the following chapter, you’ll learn about the neuroscience of altered states which allow you to access greater perspective and resources. In other words, you’ll learn how to attune yourself to receive creative problem solving inspiration from a higher order of thinking.

ALTERED STATES AND FLOW

In the previous chapter you explored some views of creativity as it unfolds in work, human behavior and the natural world. In this chapter we’ll delve into the neuroscience of creative breakthroughs, and a skill you will need to navigate the speed of the 21st century and beyond: how to move in and out of altered states.

An Overview of Non-Ordinary States

In 2013, the RedBull Hacking Creativity Projec t–the largest meta-analysis of creativity research ever conducted–reviewed more than 30,000 research papers, hundreds of subject matter experts, breakdancers, poets, rock stars and more, only to find that creativity is essential to problem solving, and that in general, we have little training for it.

Creative problem solving requires the ability to find solutions by holding conflicting perspectives and using friction to synthesize a new idea. As Dr. Paul Scheele notes, it requires giving up a singular point of view, and either/or logic. And as it turns out, the best way to access this new, expanded point of view is through non-ordinary states of consciousness. 

Non-ordinary states of consciousness encompass a wide variety of experiences that typically fall into two categories: the peak or mystical variety, and those that are slightly more “ordinary” and can be cultivated through practice. The line between the two, however, is not well defined.

For instance, non-ordinary peak experiences such as Near Death Experiences (NDEs), Out of Body Experiences, mystical or religious revelations, illuminations, or experiences on psychedelics are not everyday occurrences, and many of us will not experience an NDE or Out of Body experience. Then there are the slightly more ordinary , non-ordinary states, which are usually known as flow states, meditative states, or those accessed through mindbody practices such as yoga, or the awe of being in nature.

The second category we can move in and out of with ease and some training. Cultivating the skill of being able to move in and out of these states at will is a necessary skill for accessing creative breakthroughs. This skill can be cultivated by recognizing when you’re in your regular waking beta brainwave state versus alpha, theta or another.

A Primer on Brainwave States

According to Jamie Wheal and Steven Kotler of the Flow Genome Project, “we’ve been trying to train for a skill set, but what we really need is to train for the skill of accessing altered states.” 

In order to access greater creativity, it helps to understand the brainwave states associated with different levels of resources within you. When you can become attuned to what these states feel like, and how to enter them at will, you can harness massive amounts of information that are normally unavailable to you in your regular waking state.

The ways of the Western world are often based on more productivity, more output, more hustle–the legacy of the Industrial Model. Yet these ways of being severely limit human potential and expression.

In a moment, you’ll see a chart that is based on the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza in his book Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself . The left side of the chart displays the brainwave frequency, the developmental stage in life where this is the dominant state, and brief notes about what this state means. The right side of the chart demonstrates the resources available within these states when we access them as adults.

Developmental Stages of Mind

As we develop from infancy into adulthood, we move through stages in which we experience a dominant brainwave state . For instance, infants (age zero to two) spend most of their time in a delta state, which is why they’re asleep much of the time. Human adults mostly experience delta waves only during sleep. In this state there is little mental editing, critical thinking, or judgment taking place.

As children grow, they enter into a theta state where they are essentially in a trance. This is how small children learn so quickly, and are also so imaginative. For adults, this is a place of intuition and even where deep healing takes place. If you have ever been under hypnosis, this is likely where you were. Your nonconscious mind is highly impressionable in this state.

Alpha states are well known thanks to the mindfulness movement. In school age children, the analytical mind begins to develop, yet they retain an awareness of both their inner and outer worlds. For adults, we may recognize alpha as a place of relaxed alertness in meditation or while gazing at a relaxing natural scene.

Beta states begin to become dominant in children from age eight to twelve and into adulthood. This is our regular waking state as adults where we engage in logical thinking, problem solving and being mostly focused on the environment in front of us. Beta is necessary for successful functioning as an adult.

When we move into the mid to higher ranges of beta frequencies, however, we are likely very stressed, anxious or have experienced some kind of traumatic event. In these ranges, it means your mindbody system is chaotic, where you begin releasing survival chemicals, and may be over-concentrating on a subject–which means you can’t open yourself to other possibilities. Essentially your stressed system has produced tunnel vision in you.

Then there are gamma states or the highest frequency waves we can measure so far, which have been demonstrated in Buddhist monks during meditation. This is the state of peak experiences.

Altered States and Creativity Boosts

As you saw in the chart above, research on Tibetan Buddhist monks in the 1990s revealed a preponderance of gamma brainwaves. We now know that these brainwave patterns arise during “binding” when novel ideas come together for the first time and create new neural pathways.

In order to have this kind of experience, your prefrontal cortex, or the seat of your executive functioning, needs to come offline. In Stealing Fire, Wheal and Kotler highlight that researchers at the University of Sydney used transcranial magnetic stimulation to do this, and created 20 to 40-minute flow states.

Psychedelic testing has also revealed as much as a 200 percent creativity boost in some individuals. The authors of the study note the real world solutions that emerged during an experiment included “design of a linear electron accelerator beam-steering device, a mathematical theorem regarding NOR-gate circuits, a new design for a vibratory microtome, a space probe designed to measure solar properties, and a new conceptual model of a photon.”

Whether it be mindfulness training, psychedelics or technological stimulation, researchers have seen a 200 percent boost in creativity, 490 percent boost in learning, and a 500 percent boost in productivity. ( Stealing Fire p . 50)

So in case you were wondering, do short-term peak experiences help us to solve real-world problems? YES.

If you are to harness altered states to increase your creativity and productivity, how else do you recognize them when they occur? The Flow Genome Project’s phenomenological description of these states as S.T.E.R.–Selflessness, Timelessness, Effortlessness and Richness–may be helpful.

Selflessness

This experience means you feel at first less , as if something is missing in you. You experience your nagging inner voice, but then the neurotic prefrontal cortex goes offline. Transient hypofrontality kicks in and your inner critic goes quiet.

Developmental psychologist Robert Kegan describes this as a subject-object shift. In his book In Over Our Head s : The Mental Demands of Modern Life , Kegan explains this shift:

“You start. . . constructing a world that is much more friendly to contradiction, to oppositeness, to being able to hold onto multiple systems of thinking. . . This means that the self is more about movement through different forms of consciousness than about defining and identifying with any one form.” In other words, you step outside of yourself and it gives you perspective.

Timelessness

Transient hypofrontality also shuts off your ability to calculate time. Here, you can’t separate past from future, and the only thing that matters is now. This is presence or mindful awareness. Your amygdala, the seat of your fight or flight response calms down here too.

In a study in Psychological Science , Jennifer Aaker and Melanie Rudd found “an experience of timelessness is so powerful it shapes behavior. In a series of experiments, subjects who tasted even a brief moment of timelessness ‘felt they had more time available, were less impatient, more willing to volunteer to help others, more strongly preferred experiences over mental products, and experienced a greater boost in life satisfaction.’”

Can you imagine then, what a brief taste of timelessness can do for your ability to solve complex problems? When you can drop that urgency for a moment to feel into the feeling of an abundance of time and resources ? The past and future fade away. You no longer try to predict what the near future will look like based on historical evidence. See chapter five of this guide where Dr. Paul Scheele’s Natural Brilliance model will delve into a process for generating creative solutions.

Effortlessness

Effortlessness can propel you past the limits of your normal motivation. When you experience flow while undertaking a task or situation, afterward you know that you did it, it felt amazing, and you want to do it again. The six powerful neurotransmitters involved in flow states can be to blame: norepinephrine, dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, anandamide, and oxytocin–all pleasurable chemicals.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi’s research into flow found that his subjects frequently called the state ‘addictive,’ and admitted to going to exceptional lengths to engage in flow states more often. Czikzenmihalyi explains in his book Flow that the experience “lifts the course of life to another level. . . alienation gives way to involvement, enjoyment replaces boredom, helplessness turns into a feeling of control. . .” The intrinsic reward of feeling flow means you no longer need reminders, to-do lists or an accountability buddy or coach to make sure you do what we need to do.

Your experience becomes vivid, detailed and revealing. Jason Silva is a futurist and host of National Geographic documentaries Brain Games and Origins . In his first YouTube video “You Are a Receiver, ” Silva explains, “It’s creative inspiration or divine madness or that kind of connection to something larger than ourselves that makes us feel like we understand the intelligence that runs throughout the universe.”

The Greeks called this richness anamnesis, or the forgetting of the forgetting. This sense of remembering is that of ecstatic experiences. When your agitated beta waves move into alpha daydreaming or relaxed alertness via the shutting down of your prefrontal cortex, and your anandamide boosts your ‘lateral thinking’, you now have the ability to make connections between seemingly disparate ideas.

Then quasi-hypnotic theta waves enhance relaxation and intuition. Your conscious processing–or what you can pick up through your daily awake beta brainwave state–can only take in about 120 bits of information at once. Listening to another person speak can take almost 60 bits.

That means if two people are talking, you’ve maxed out your attention and cannot take it all in. If you can remember that unconscious processing can handle billions of bits at once, that’s a game changer. The information we need is always there. We just can’t tap into it in our normal state.

So as you’ve seen from the detailed explanation of brainwave frequencies, flow and altered states we presented in this chapter, understanding these different states intellectually, and actually having an embodied experience of them so that you can create set points, helps you reach into the realms of creative problem solving breakthroughs by using your mind to access expanded perspectives and connect seemingly disparate ideas to create innovative solutions.

According to Dr. Win Wenger, a pioneer in Accelerative Learning, Creativity, Brain and Mind Development, your nonconscious mind processes bits of information at 10 million to one of what your conscious mind processes. This equates to you consciously perceiving about 40 bits per second.

An easy way to recognize how much you are letting in is by paying attention to your eyes. If you are hard focusing your eyes, you are in your conscious mind. If you have a softer gaze, you are allowing in information from the periphery, and you are accessing your nonconscious mind.

In this guide, we are not just looking for creative solutions; we are looking for creative solutions for the 21st century going forward . This means that we need to be cautious of the influence of the Industrial Model on our habits of looking for solutions through left-brain analysis alone. Using altered states on a regular basis is a way to move beyond the left brain.

As you will see in the next chapter on the Natural Brilliance model, Dr. Paul Scheele notes that our problems are defined within our mental and social models. So, in order to effectively create solutions, we need to shift our paradigm in the way we approach the problem.

Paradigm shifts mean that we shift our consciousness to what developmental psychologists would call a higher order of thinking, or the expansive perspective of altered states. In the following chapter, you’ll dive into Scheele’s step-by-step Natural Brilliance model.

HOW TO USE THE NATURAL BRILLIANCE MODEL FOR PARADOXICAL PROBLEMS

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few. We must have a beginner’s mind, free from possessing anything, a mind that knows everything is in flowing change. Nothing exists but momentarily in its present form…” – Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Master

As we’ve discussed in previous chapters of this guide, our modern globalized world is complex, ever-changing, and will require greater creative problem solving capabilities than perhaps any other time in our human history.

Now that you have an understanding of the neuroscience behind brainwave states, as well as the importance of utilizing altered states in creative problem solving, we’ll now introduce you to a specific, highly effective problem solving technique for addressing paradoxical problems: The Natural Brilliance model.

Flipping the Old Problem-Solving Paradigm

The Natural Brilliance model is a creative problem solving process originally created for Honeywell by Paul Scheele, PhD, a pioneer in Accelerative Learning and Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

Scheele notes that people typically spend 20 percent of the time and effort of defining a problem and finding a solution, and then 80 percent on the implementation of it, which often leads to more problems. Scheele suggests that we need to spend 80 percent of the time and effort on finding solutions—meaning don’t just find one or two solutions. It means finding more– up to 7, 9, 11 different solutions.

The reason for coming up with a higher number of solutions is that the ones that come first are usually the easy answers that are emerging from the level of thinking that created the problem.

This means that when we come up with solutions, we need to challenge them right away. Consider, what could go wrong? What will result from solving this aspect of a problem? When 80 percent of the effort is spent on the solution finding, only 20 percent need be spent on implementation, which will typically go far more smoothly than the 20/80 percent approach.

Creative Leadership

“Our current problems are the unintended consequences of our prevailing problem-solving approach.” – Dr. Paul Scheele

In an interview on Creativity in Business, Scheele noted that the ability to embrace paradox and be comfortable with ambiguity is crucial to creativity within organizations. The paradox refers to the fact that whatever solution you implement can create more problems, so there is no lasting solution.

We need to think of creativity as evolutionary. It involves solving, creating, implementing the solution, receiving feedback from the implementation and then further refining the approach to the problem. You will see this approach in action in the steps of the Natural Brilliance model below.

Scheele also shares that our mental models are based on social systems, which means we are wearing blinders to what those models are, so we end up creating more of the same without realizing how or why. Creative leadership, then, must include the capacity to make these models visible so that they can be changed.

About the Natural Brilliance Model

According to Scheele in his book Natural Brilliance , the Natural Brilliance model uses Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) to deconstruct rigid definitions of a static “problem” and instead move to a fluid exploration of internal representations and options.

This deconstruction makes the mental models visible so that they can be changed, and, therefore, allows for a cohesive whole that incorporates all desired benefits to remain. It removes the either/or dichotomy that our minds typically resort to–which is the paradox. It requires a shift to a higher order of consciousness. Or, like, Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying, “we cannot solve our problems on the same level of thinking that created them.”

This model can be used for complex (or paradoxical) problems that a group is working on together in business, or it can be used to address personal problems within one’s own life. No matter the problem being addressed, it helps individuals to work through stuck states: those situations where it seems you have an inability to learn or make progress in an area.

It addresses the physical, mental and emotional push and pull, or what Scheele calls Oscillation between options, or knowing what would be best to do and then failing to take action in order to change the situation. This oscillation results in stagnation, where people think change is too difficult.

For most people, you are afraid to change because you risk losing the present positives that you want to keep. On the other hand, the future also has some negatives that will inevitably arise from the change you are implementing.

Stuck States and using NLP to reframe

This series of questions can be used for any stuck state, which is whatever you seem unable to accomplish in life, and can help you to get clarity on what you do want versus what you do not want. When you find yourself in oscillation and unable to take action, ask yourself:

• What is the difference between the present state and desired outcome? In what area of life (or business or whatever the context in which you are seeking new solutions) is there oscillation? In personal life, this could be in your work, creating, self-expression, learning or intellectual abilities, physical body or wellness, social, interpersonal or community problems, or family/relationships.
• What personal identity do you maintain in relationship to this issue? How do you view yourself? What do you affirm about this issue? And what do you believe to be true for you?
• What is the predominant emotion?
• What is your unresolvable paradox? In other words, what opposing outcomes do you want at the same time?
• What are the benefits and detriments inside your stuck state?
• What fears are associated with your stuck state?

The answers to these questions will help you to understand your current frame of reference surrounding your problem so you can shift it.

Step 1: Release

The first step, Release, drains stress out of the physical systems. Relax your body and mind into an alpha state.

Releasing can be as easy as changing your posture, eye focus, breathing, and thoughts to produce a calming effect.

You are familiar with this concept if you’ve read chapter four of this guide. Tension and resistance characterize a person trying to change the present situation. Often, the person strains to avoid making the situation worse. You’re trying to force an outcome. Scheele notes that, paradoxically, almost everything people instinctively do to remedy a bad situation makes it worse. The best solution may also be counterintuitive.

Tension and stress causes us to narrowly focus our attention. Think back to our brainwave chart in chapter four. In this narrowed attention, you’re too focused on the details and miss the big picture. Scheele states that “breakthrough happens when we make the connection that our attempts to keep everything in control are antithetical to relaxing enough to be in control.”

By relaxing, you allow your sensory system to take in subtle changes within and around you. This is how you can be more open to intuitive nudges and resources from your nonconscious mind. This leads us to the next step, Notice.

Step 2: Notice

The Notice step could also be thought of as mindfulness or presence. It involves entering into increased awareness both of external sensory input and internal sensations such as intuition and impressions upon your inner mind.   You get rid of your tunnel vision of a problem.

Scheele notes that when you attend to the input in your sensory systems, you will naturally generate creative options and promising responses. The reason for this is because your inner mind makes connections and associations much faster than your conscious mind. You’re giving your mind direction and then it can get to work on deep levels.

This awareness includes using your five physical senses to pay attention to the external environment, as well as your corresponding internal senses. Internal perceptions include inner pictures, imaginings, memories, emotional feelings, remembered tactile sensations, internal dialogue, voices and other sounds, even remembered smells and tastes. Remember your multiple intelligences here.

Relaxed alertness and a broader perception of   information helps you to now choose new responses from a rich set of options. You stop the oscillation.

Step 3: Respond

This step means to take action which will then provide feedback. Until you take some kind of action and receive feedback, you cannot know what steps to take next, if your approach is on the right track, or if you need to rethink your actions or plan all together.

Any response either increases the oscillation and the inability to move, or it dampens the oscillation and increases movement toward a satisfying outcome. For instance, falling down simply provides feedback on how to walk better next time.

Once your brain recognizes that your actions (or not doing any actions) makes your situation better or worse, you have the beginnings of change and the first step in gaining control of the outcomes you want to produce.

When you feel you can cause your life to get better, you build your self-confidence and self-esteem. Measure your progress after taking action, and be kind to yourself. There is no failure; only feedback and progress.

Step 4: Witness

This step allows you to create the successful outcome you are after. Just as in Step 3 you learned to remain neutral and relaxed, it is still important to maintain a nonjudgmental stance, or what Scheele calls emotional safety and blessing. Witnessing means you are simply observing. Feedback is learning; failure or success is not the point. Scheele suggests giving your new behaviors at least 50 trials.

Again, the Natural Brilliance process is:

This process may seem very simple–because it is! The key is to remember to utilize it in tense situations, especially when there is an urgency to find a creative solution. Slowing down in times of stress seems counterintuitive, but it is exactly what you need in order to find the best solutions.

THE WIND TUNNEL AND OTHER CREATIVE TECHNIQUES

In the last chapter you learned Paul Scheele’s Natural Brilliance model for creating solutions for paradoxical problems. One of the keys to Scheele’s model is being open to many options, and not stopping at the first few ideas that you receive because those are likely too close to the level of thinking that created the problem. You need to go deeper and access more resources–just as you learned in the previous chapters on multiple intelligences and altered states.

In this chapter you’ll learn some specific techniques to increase your creative idea generation, as well as tips to exercise your mind for creative thinking on a regular basis, even if you are not currently working on a problem.

Image Streaming

The Wind Tunnel Technique was created by Win Wenger, PhD, pioneer in Accelerative Learning, Creativity, Brain and Mind Development and Political Economy, and one of the authors of The Einstein Factor.

One of Wenger’s key contributions to the field of creativity is his research on Image Streaming to reach the resources beyond your conscious mind.

According to Wenger, 80 to 90 percent of information your brain processes happens through sensory image association, while only two percent happens through word association. So this means talking about a problem in a logical, left brain manner is limited. You need to access the right brain, which communicates in images, metaphors and feelings. Image Streaming should be used to describe in sensory-textured detail as possible.

If you recall the brainwave chart earlier in this guide, when you are receiving spontaneous images in your mind, you are automatically working at a theta brainwave level, which is accessing far greater resources than your conscious mind can capture.

Within this foundational framework of Image Streaming, Wenger developed a “torrential approach” with an outpouring of perceptions from the mind: the Wind Tunnel.

The Wind Tunnel

In this brainstorming exercise, you work with a partner to capture whatever creative ideas flow from your nonconscious mind, without allowing for the judgments or analysis of your conscious mind to slow you down.

• You start with a minimum of 11 minutes, but the longer the time, the better.
• Perhaps after preparing by reading some texts on a subject, or reviewing other information about a topic or field, you would then proceed to talk without stopping. As Paul Scheele mentioned about his Natural Brilliance approach, the main problem in solving problems is getting past the conscious expectation of what the answer ought to be.
• In order to get past what you already know and access new perceptions, your partner who is recording your ideas should be focused on encouraging you to speak faster.
• The recording partner should only write down three to four of the most important or interesting ideas that you as the speaker mention and ignore the rest.
• The idea of this process is to speak first and think later, and be willing to be wrong or silly. Wenger notes that if your idea would elicit a burst of laughter from another person, it is probably a good idea in disguise.
• The recording partner will then take four minutes to share his or her notes on the most interesting things the speaker said.
• If relevant, you could then switch with your partner and allow the recorder to become the speaker about a topic he or she has just studied or reviewed.

The process may seem similar to doing free writing or any process where you let words flow without stopping to analyze them, but the addition of a partner could lead to recognizing significant ideas from you that you would not highlight as significant or useful.

The Crab Apple Process

Another creative brainstorming approach from Wenger is the Crab Apple Process.

• In this simple process, you allow your attention to be drawn to something in your surroundings. It could be as simple as a crab apple.
• Begin to describe aspects of the object of your attention, and then begin to relate aspects of the object to the topic of discussion. Remember, the more sensory, textured detail you can include, the better.
• Like the Wind Tunnel technique, the longer amount of time you go for in doing this, the better the ideas will flow.

Accessing Creativity Through Another Pathway

Prolific author Jean Houston, one of the principal founders of the Human Potential Movement, as well as founder of The Mind Research Institute often discusses her practice of accessing creativity through other paths. For instance, if Houston is working on writing and having trouble finding her flow of ideas, she will go cook and allow the ideas to come as they are ready.

You could try anything: cooking, painting, playing music, but the key is not to just use any activity. Houston notes that cooking is her other pathway because she is skilled and confident in it. So choose an activity where you are competent and confident in your abilities, and it does not demand much of you. In other words, it doesn’t feel like hard work that causes you to feel tension. This process will not only free up your nonconscious mind to offer up solutions to your creative problem, but may also allow you to access a burst of energy to create.

Draw Your Solutions

Like Wenger noted, your brain uses sensory-image association to process the incoming stream of information in your world. Like his Image Streaming techniques, using your right brain to bypass the left brain logical mind can help you generate novel solutions. This can include activities such as drawing (you don’t have to be a good artist). The point is not to really think about what you are drawing.

Just put your hand to paper and see what comes out. Think about how art therapy works, especially for children. By drawing or painting, they are able to express unconscious emotions. Similarly, you drawing can allow you to unleash some of the genius lurking in your nonconscious mind.

As Tim Ferriss, author of The Four Hour Work Week , often mentions, daily routines can set you up for success, but you also need to learn how to break them.

Consider these questions:

• Do you open yourself to novelty in your life?
• Do you take different routes home from work?
• Do you make yourself available to new people, places and ideas?
• Do you go against your habits to explore that which is different from your reality?

Simply becoming more deliberately curious and open minded about the world can help you to take in more varied, diverse sensory information, which later allow you to make novel connections between seemingly unrelated ideas–often the mark of genius.

HOW THE NATURAL WORLD MAKES YOU MASSIVELY CREATIVE

It’s well known that many famous artists, inventors and thinkers throughout history spent time in nature–especially walking–to enhance their work. Nikola Tesla, John Muir, Albert Einstein, Ludwig Van Beethoven and many more often credit their time in nature for creative breakthroughs.

In our modern world, we have plenty of emerging data to explain why nature helps us be more creative, and especially why this is so important in the Digital Age.

How Our Brains Evolved in Nature

Our brains evolved outside where we could be filled with interesting things, but not an overwhelming amount of interesting things. Our ancestors could notice passing distractions, but also had the ability to focus and remain disciplined so they could master skills, build tools, have families, and hunt. Evolution favored early humans who could stay on task and switch tasks when needed. Our prefrontal cortex evolved to allow us to do this.

Our ancestors were curious and also wanted to explore. The ones who could survive in dynamic, unfamiliar environments could respond more quickly. Just as in today’s complex, ever-changing world, those of us who can be creative enough to switch tasks and devise novel solutions will be far more likely to thrive.

In the modern world we consume 74 gigabytes of data every day, according to McGill University neuroscientist Daniel Levitin. Teens today spend vastly more waking hours on screens than outdoors, which means that the Digital Age is profoundly narrowing our horizons and our creativity.

How Nature Expands Our Creative Minds

Nature gets us into flow states, especially after a few days of being outdoors. David Strayer of the University of Utah’s Applied Cognition Lab notes that nature helps us think, solve problems and work together, primarily by lowering stress and anxiety.

Stephen and Rachel Kaplan at the University of Michigan developed Attention Restoration Theory (ART) which explains how nature scenes evoke “soft fascination” and help us rest our top-down, direct-attention faculties, helping us relax so we can think better. You rest the executive branch of your brain after a couple of days in the wilderness.

After three days of being in nature, you’re more relaxed and begin noticing details. Once the novelty effect of the first few days wears off, your attention is no longer grabbed so you move into intuition. This is where the creative inspiration starts bubbling up. From a neuroscientific perspective, this means nature effortlessly puts you in the calm-alert zone of the alpha state.

The overall take away from these experts is that when the brain rests from daily tasks, it can make room for other things.

Luckily, we also have tools such as The Nature Pyramid developed by Tim Beatley who runs the Biophilic Cities Project at the University of Virginia. Beatley has broken down more exact amounts of time spent in nature and how it affects our wellbeing and creativity.

The Nature Pyramid

The first step in expanding your creativity and wellbeing, is in scheduling daily interactions with nearby nature to help you de-stress, find focus and recover from mental fatigue. Remember our brainwave chart? Too much time in a high beta brainwave state is not good for your mind or body, and severely limits your perception of the world.

Birds, trees in your neighborhood, pets, house plants, public and private architecture, daylight, fresh air, the ability to see blue sky and naturalistic landscaping are fall under the daily nature schedule.

The second step is weekly outings to parks, waterways, and specifically places where the sounds of a city diminish. The minimum optimal time spent here is one hour per week. Think big city parks, regional or national parks that you can easily access.

The third step is monthly excursions to forests, “restful, escapist natural areas” one weekend per month. This level of nature immersion benefits our immune systems too.

The fourth level of the pyramid encompasses the “rare, but essential” doses of wilderness yearly or biyearly. These kinds of trips are intense, multi-day bursts of nature. They can often be life-changing, or paradigm-shifting, and “fill us with awe and reassurance of our place in the universe,” according to Florence Williams in her book The Nature Fix .

In fact, consider how American President Teddy Roosevelt, arguably one of the “most hyperproductive presidents of all time” according to Williams, escaped to open country for months at a time.

Awe and Creativity

Aside from the spiritual or existential benefits of this kind of wilderness trip, if you’ll recall the role of awe in altered states and the ah-ha breakthroughs it can create, you will understand why time in nature can be incredibly powerful in generating creative solutions.

An awe-inspiring experience means that we have difficulty making sense of it. These are the transcendent experiences described by philosophers, poets, and mystics. These experiences are not just transitory moments of wonder, however. Awe can change your perspective even for a long time afterward.

THE CREATIVE PROCESS REVISITED: HOW TO AVOID SELF SABOTAGE

Throughout this guide, we’ve looked at the creative process as a way to solve a discrete problem. The creative process can also be understood in a broader scope as well. Afterall, our human-directed creative process is a microcosm of the universal creative process.

A Lifespan Approach to the Creative Process

Novelist and poet Orna Ross takes a lifespan approach in describing creativity in the context of stages of psychological development that we all move in and out of. Ross’s process is particularly helpful in understanding problems of procrastination, overwhelm and self-sabotage .

These seven stages are intention, incubation, investigation, composition, clarification, correction and completion. They do not operate in a linear way. Instead they are spontaneous and free-flowing, and can sometimes feel chaotic or overwhelming.

This is not a simplistic model imposed on human behaviour but a primal, unfolding process that happens over and over again, in humans and in nature. We can see this creative unfolding reflected in the seven stages of life, and also in the seven psychological states, as follows.

STAGE 1: INTENTION (Aspiring) First Law of Creation: Birth Life Stage: Infancy: Impulse

STAGE 2: INCUBATION (Germinating) Second Law of Creation: Enchantment Life Stage: Childhood: Magic

STAGE 3: INVESTIGATION (Exploring) Third Law of Creation: Revolution Life Stage: Adolescence: Experiment

STAGE 4: COMPOSITION (Devising) Fourth Law of Creation: Involution Life Stage: Adulthood: Logic

STAGE 5: CLARIFICATION (Deepening) Fifth Law of Creation: Selfhood Life Stage: Early Midlife: Appraisal

STAGE 6: CORRECTION (Revis[ion]ing) Sixth Law of Creation: Evolution Life Stage: Late Midlife: Adaptation

STAGE 7: COMPLETION (Finishing and Letting Go) Seventh Law of Creation: Transformation Life Stage: Aging: Release

Ross compares the example of doing something that comes easy to us, such as making a  family dinner, painting a room, or writing an article, where we zip through the stages without noticing them, to doing something that stretches us: conference catering for 300, making a million dollars, writing a novel, which require a more nuanced understanding of the differing behaviours and requirements of each stage.

Ross notes that “a common reason why people fail to accomplish their heart’s desire is because they are indulging thoughts and behaviours that are inappropriate to the stage they are in.”

For instance, if you tend to edit (stage 6) your ideas and insights before they are fully formed (stage 2), you are impeding the natural process.

This perspective demonstrates that creativity is both a science and an art with clear steps that can be followed, but also requires a letting go and allowing. Creativity takes courage whether you are solving a problem at work, or creating your own life. It can be a messy endeavor, but nonetheless, this powerful process is unavoidable in all existence.

So that’s Creative Problem Solving for the 21st Century: The Go-To Guide.

Creativity is largely about bringing seemingly disparate ideas together in new ways, and applying it to a real-world situation. It doesn’t mean you have to invent something new, because the truth is nothing is ever truly new. Everything is built upon the ideas and experiences of others.

Never doubt your creativity. No one else has your unique combination of education and life experience. No one wears the same lenses as you to view the world. Remember, if your idea is silly or laughable, it’s probably a genius idea in disguise.

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Comparing Creative Problem Solving Techniques for Best Results

Introduction.

Problem-solving is a crucial skill in both personal and professional settings. Whether it’s addressing a complex issue at work or finding creative solutions to everyday challenges, effective problem-solving leads to better outcomes and increased productivity. However, not all problems can be approached in the same way. Different techniques are available to tackle various problems, and choosing the right approach is essential for optimal results.

In this article, we will explore and compare different creative problem-solving techniques to help you identify the best approach for your specific needs. By understanding the various techniques and their advantages and disadvantages, you can make an informed decision on which approach to implement and increase your chances of successful problem resolution.

Let’s begin by examining the technique of design thinking.

Technique 1: Design Thinking

Design Thinking is a problem-solving approach that prioritizes empathy and user-centered design. It emphasizes understanding the needs and desires of the end-users and applying creative solutions to meet those needs effectively. This technique is widely used in various fields, including product design, business strategy, and social innovation.

Components of Design Thinking

Design thinking consists of several key components, each contributing to the overall problem-solving process. These components are:

Empathy : Design thinking starts by empathizing with the users and gaining a deep understanding of their experiences, frustrations, and desires. This involves conducting user research, interviews, and observations to gather insights.

Ideation : Once the user needs are understood, the ideation phase begins. This involves brainstorming and generating a wide range of ideas to address the identified problems. The goal is to encourage creativity and divergent thinking to explore multiple possibilities.

Prototyping : After generating ideas, the next step is to create prototypes or mock-ups that represent potential solutions. Prototypes can be physical models, digital simulations, sketches, or storyboards. Prototyping allows for quick iteration and feedback before investing in the final solution.

Testing : The prototypes are then tested with the end-users to gather feedback and insights. This feedback helps refine and improve the solutions. Testing can be done through user interviews, surveys, or usability testing. The iterative nature of design thinking allows for continuous improvement based on user feedback.

Examples of Successful Problem-Solving using Design Thinking

Design thinking has been successfully applied to various real-world problems. For example:

Airbnb : To address the challenge of trust between hosts and guests, Airbnb conducted extensive user research to understand user concerns. They then iteratively tested and improved their user interface and policies to build trust and confidence in the platform.

PepsiCo : PepsiCo used design thinking to develop a sustainable packaging solution for its Frito-Lay snacks division. By empathizing with users and understanding their environmental concerns, PepsiCo designed a compostable packaging material that reduced waste and aligned with consumer preferences.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Design Thinking

Design thinking offers several advantages in problem-solving:

User-centered approach : By focusing on the needs and desires of users, design thinking ensures that the solutions are tailored to meet their specific requirements, resulting in higher user satisfaction.

Encourages Creativity : Design thinking encourages divergent thinking, enabling teams to explore a wide range of ideas and solutions. This creative approach often leads to innovative problem-solving.

Promotes Collaboration : Design thinking involves multidisciplinary teams working together, fostering collaboration and a diversity of perspectives. This collaborative approach encourages teamwork and facilitates holistic problem-solving.

However, there are also some challenges and limitations associated with design thinking:

Time and Resource Intensive : Conducting comprehensive user research, ideation, prototyping, and testing can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Organizations with limited time or budget constraints may find it challenging to fully embrace design thinking.

Subjectivity and Bias : Design thinking relies on empathy and user insights, which can be subjective and influenced by biased interpretations. It is crucial to mitigate biases through rigorous research and involve a diverse range of users to avoid overlooking important perspectives.

Despite these limitations, design thinking remains a powerful problem-solving technique that can drive innovation, improve user experiences, and lead to successful outcomes.

Technique 2: Six Thinking Hats

Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats technique is a powerful tool for creative problem-solving. It provides a framework for exploring different perspectives and generating innovative solutions. The technique is based on the idea that our thinking can be categorized into six different modes, each represented by a different colored hat. By using these hats metaphorically, individuals or teams can deliberately switch between different modes of thinking and enhance their problem-solving abilities.

The Six Hats

The White Hat: This hat represents neutral and objective thinking. When wearing the white hat, individuals focus on gathering and analyzing data and information. They strive to separate facts from opinions or biases. The white hat allows for an objective assessment of the current situation and helps identify any gaps in knowledge.

The Red Hat: The red hat symbolizes emotions and intuition. When wearing the red hat, individuals are encouraged to express their feelings, intuitions, and gut reactions. This mode of thinking allows for an exploration of emotions and personal perspectives without the need for justification or evidence.

The Black Hat: The black hat represents critical and cautious thinking. When wearing the black hat, individuals adopt a skeptical mindset and focus on identifying potential risks, weaknesses, and drawbacks. This mode of thinking helps in anticipating possible challenges and avoiding hasty decisions.

The Yellow Hat: The yellow hat embodies optimistic and positive thinking. When wearing the yellow hat, individuals focus on identifying the benefits, possibilities, and advantages of various options. This mode of thinking encourages the exploration of opportunities and potential positive outcomes.

The Green Hat: The green hat represents creative and innovative thinking. When wearing the green hat, individuals engage in brainstorming and generate new ideas, concepts, and alternatives. This mode of thinking encourages thinking outside the box, exploring multiple perspectives, and considering unconventional solutions.

The Blue Hat: The blue hat symbolizes control and organization of the thinking process. When wearing the blue hat, individuals take on the role of a facilitator or a moderator. They guide the thinking process, manage time, and ensure that all the other hats are used effectively. The blue hat helps in setting the agenda, establishing goals, and directing the overall problem-solving process.

Real-life Examples

The Six Thinking Hats technique has been successfully applied in various fields and industries. One notable example is the healthcare sector. In a hospital setting, a team of doctors and nurses can use the six hats to analyze a complex patient case. The white hat helps them gather and review objective medical data. The red hat allows them to express their emotional concerns and personal views. The black hat aids in identifying potential risks and contraindications. The yellow hat enables them to consider positive treatment outcomes. The green hat facilitates the generation of novel treatment options. Lastly, the blue hat ensures that the team stays focused and follows a systematic problem-solving approach.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The Six Thinking Hats technique offers several advantages. Firstly, it promotes effective teamwork by allowing individuals to switch between different thinking modes and consider multiple perspectives. This encourages a more comprehensive and well-rounded approach to problem-solving. Secondly, it enhances creativity by providing a structured framework for generating innovative ideas. The different hats create a balance between analytical and intuitive thinking. Additionally, the technique is easy to understand and apply, making it accessible to individuals with varying levels of expertise.

However, there are also some potential disadvantages of using the Six Thinking Hats technique. Firstly, it may not be suitable for all types of problems. Some complex issues may require in-depth analysis and expertise that cannot be fully addressed using the six hats alone. Secondly, the technique heavily relies on active participation and engagement from all team members. If not everyone actively contributes or if there is a dominant individual, the effectiveness of the technique may be compromised. Lastly, some individuals may find it challenging to switch between different modes of thinking, particularly if they are more inclined towards a specific thinking style.

In conclusion, the Six Thinking Hats technique is a valuable tool for enhancing creative problem-solving. By incorporating different modes of thinking, individuals or teams can approach problems from multiple perspectives and generate innovative solutions. While the technique has its advantages and disadvantages, it remains a popular and widely used approach in various industries and sectors.

Technique 3: Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a popular and effective creative problem-solving technique that encourages the generation of a wide range of ideas. It involves a group of individuals working together to brainstorm, share ideas, and build upon each other’s suggestions. The goal of brainstorming is to promote free thinking and generate as many ideas as possible, without judgment or criticism.

Traditional Brainstorming

One commonly used method of brainstorming is traditional brainstorming. In this approach, a group of people comes together and freely shares their ideas on a specific problem or topic. These ideas are then written down on a board or a piece of paper for everyone to see.

Traditional brainstorming encourages active participation from all participants and fosters the exploration of various perspectives. It allows for the development of a diverse set of ideas, which can lead to innovative solutions. The lack of judgment or criticism during this process creates an open and non-threatening environment, which can boost creativity.

However, traditional brainstorming also has its disadvantages. The sheer number of ideas generated can be overwhelming and difficult to manage. Some ideas may be irrelevant, impractical, or repetitive. Additionally, certain individuals may dominate the conversation, hindering the input from quieter or introverted team members.

Brainwriting 6-3-5

To address some of the challenges of traditional brainstorming, a structured method called Brainwriting 6-3-5 can be used. This technique involves a group of six participants who write down three ideas each within five minutes, hence the name. After the initial round, the ideas are passed on to the next person, who builds upon them or generates new ideas based on the existing ones. This process continues until all participants have contributed to each idea.

Brainwriting 6-3-5 allows for a more systematic and organized approach to brainstorming. It ensures that everyone’s ideas are heard and considered, reducing the risk of dominant voices overpowering the discussion. The structured nature of this technique also helps manage the volume of ideas and prevents repetition.

However, Brainwriting 6-3-5 may not be as effective for fostering spontaneous creativity as traditional brainstorming. The time limit for generating ideas can restrict the flow of creative thinking, and some participants may feel pressured to come up with ideas quickly. It may also lack the energy and collaborative spirit that can be found in traditional brainstorming sessions.

Successful Problem-Solving Using Brainstorming

Brainstorming has been successfully used in various problem-solving scenarios. For example, in a marketing team, brainstorming sessions are often conducted to generate new and innovative ideas for product promotions. The diverse perspectives and shared creativity of team members can lead to breakthrough ideas that resonate with the target audience.

Additionally, brainstorming has been applied in the field of technology and innovation. Companies like Google and Apple have famously adopted brainstorming as part of their problem-solving processes. These sessions have led to the development of groundbreaking products and software.

Comparison of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Brainstorming

When comparing the advantages and disadvantages of brainstorming, it becomes clear that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Brainstorming promotes open communication, stimulates creative thinking, and generates a variety of ideas. It encourages collaboration and teamwork, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement among participants.

However, the disadvantages of brainstorming should not be overlooked. Traditional brainstorming can be chaotic and unstructured, resulting in a large number of ideas that may be difficult to manage. Dominant individuals may overshadow others, and some ideas may not be fully explored or developed.

Brainwriting 6-3-5, on the other hand, provides a more structured approach that encourages equal participation and manages the flow of ideas effectively. However, it may lack the spontaneity and energy that can be present in traditional brainstorming sessions.

In conclusion, brainstorming is a valuable technique in creative problem-solving. Whether using traditional brainstorming or a structured method like Brainwriting 6-3-5, it promotes the generation of diverse ideas and fosters collaboration. The choice between traditional brainstorming and structured methods depends on the specific problem, the dynamics of the group, and the desired outcomes.

Technique 4: TRIZ

TRIZ, short for the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, is a highly structured approach to problem-solving that was developed in Russia by Genrich Altshuller in the 1940s. TRIZ is based on the idea that there are universal patterns in the development of inventive solutions, and that these patterns can be identified and used to overcome contradictions and find innovative solutions.

Overview of TRIZ

TRIZ is built on the principle that every problem has an underlying contradiction that prevents an ideal solution from being achieved. The goal of TRIZ is to identify and resolve these contradictions in order to find the most effective solution.

TRIZ provides a systematic framework that consists of several tools and techniques for problem analysis, idea generation, and evaluation. These tools include the “40 Inventive Principles,” the “Contradiction Matrix,” and the “Su-Field Analysis.”

Key Principles and Tools of TRIZ

Contradiction Matrix : The Contradiction Matrix is one of the key tools in TRIZ. It consists of a table that matches specific types of contradictions with corresponding inventive principles. By identifying the specific contradictions at play in a problem, TRIZ practitioners can then apply the most relevant inventive principles to solve the problem.

40 Inventive Principles : The 40 Inventive Principles are a set of general principles that have been derived from the analysis of thousands of patents and successful inventions. These principles provide guidelines for generating innovative ideas and solutions. Examples of these principles include “segmentation,” “extraction,” and “transition to a new dimension.”

Su-Field Analysis : Su-Field Analysis is a technique used in TRIZ to analyze the relationships between the system (Su), the object being acted upon (Field), and the action or effect produced (Result). By understanding these relationships, TRIZ practitioners can gain insights into the underlying contradictions and identify potential solutions.

Examples of Successful Problem-Solving using TRIZ

One example of successful problem-solving using TRIZ is the development of the non-stick frying pan. The contradiction in this case was the desire to have food easily released from the pan while also ensuring even heat distribution for optimal cooking. By analyzing the contradiction using the Contradiction Matrix and applying the “Segregation Principle” (one of the 40 Inventive Principles), the solution of using a Teflon coating on the pan’s surface was discovered. This solution addressed the contradiction by creating a non-stick surface that allowed for easy food release without compromising heat distribution.

Another example of TRIZ in action is the development of the barcode scanner. The contradiction in this case was the need to accurately read barcodes of varying sizes and orientations. By using Su-Field Analysis and applying the “Dynamics” principle (another inventive principle), the solution of creating a laser-based scanner that could dynamically adjust to different barcode types was developed.

Advantages and Disadvantages of TRIZ

Like any problem-solving technique, TRIZ has both advantages and disadvantages.

Some advantages of TRIZ include:

• Provides a systematic and structured approach to problem-solving
• Offers a wide range of tools and techniques for problem analysis and idea generation
• Enables the identification of underlying contradictions and the generation of innovative solutions
• Provides a knowledge base of principles and patterns derived from successful inventions

However, TRIZ also has some potential disadvantages:

• Requires a deep understanding and knowledge of the TRIZ principles and tools, which can be time-consuming to acquire
• May not be suitable for all types of problems, especially those that are more subjective or ambiguous
• Can be rigid and may not allow for a high degree of creativity or intuition in the problem-solving process

In conclusion, TRIZ is a powerful problem-solving technique that offers a structured and systematic approach to overcoming contradictions and finding innovative solutions. While it may not be suitable for every problem, it can be an effective tool for generating breakthrough ideas and solving complex problems in various domains.

Technique 5: Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis is a problem-solving technique that aims to identify the underlying cause of a problem rather than just treating its symptoms. By understanding and addressing the root cause, organizations can prevent the recurrence of similar issues in the future.

Introduction to Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis (RCA) is a systematic approach used to identify the primary cause of a problem or an event. It involves a thorough investigation and analysis of the problem, aiming to determine the underlying factors that contributed to its occurrence. Rather than focusing solely on the immediate and visible causes, RCA aims to dig deeper and uncover the fundamental reasons behind the problem.

Steps to Conducting Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis typically involves several sequential steps to ensure a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the problem:

Identify the Problem : The first step is to clearly define and articulate the problem. This includes identifying the symptoms, impacts, and consequences of the problem.

Gather Data : Collect relevant data and information related to the problem. This may include incident reports, historical records, process documentation, and input from individuals involved.

Ask “Why?” : Start with the problem statement and ask “why” the problem occurred. Repeat this questioning process to drill down to the underlying reasons and identify contributing factors. This technique, known as the “5 Whys,” helps in identifying the root cause by repeatedly asking why until the fundamental issue is revealed.

Analyze the Causes : Once the root cause has been identified, analyze the contributing causes that led to its occurrence. This may involve performing a cause-and-effect analysis, using tools like fishbone diagrams or fault tree analysis.

Develop Solutions : Based on the identified root cause and contributing factors, brainstorm and develop potential solutions to address the problem. These solutions should target the root cause rather than merely addressing the symptoms.

Implement and Monitor : Implement the selected solution and closely monitor its effectiveness. Track the progress and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that the problem does not recur.

Real-Life Examples of Successful Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis has been successfully applied across various industries and sectors. Here are a few examples:

Airline Industry : Following an aircraft accident, root cause analysis was used to identify systemic issues within an airline’s maintenance processes, leading to changes in training, procedures, and safety protocols.

Healthcare Sector : Root cause analysis is commonly used to investigate medical errors, patient safety incidents, and adverse events. It helps identify failures in processes, communication, and healthcare systems that contributed to the incidents.

Manufacturing Sector : When a product defect occurred in a manufacturing facility, root cause analysis helped identify a flaw in the production process. By addressing the underlying issue, the company was able to improve product quality and minimize defects.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis offers several advantages that make it a valuable problem-solving technique:

Prevention of Recurrence : By identifying and addressing the root cause, organizations can prevent the recurrence of similar problems or events.

Comprehensive Understanding : Root cause analysis provides a deeper understanding of the problem, helping organizations develop targeted and effective solutions.

Systemic Improvement : RCA often reveals underlying issues in processes, systems, or organizational culture, enabling organizations to implement broader improvements beyond the immediate problem.

However, root cause analysis also has some limitations:

Time and Resource Intensive : Conducting a thorough root cause analysis requires time, resources, and expertise. This may not always be feasible, particularly in urgent or time-sensitive situations.

Subjectivity and Bias : The process of identifying the root cause relies on human judgment, which can introduce subjectivity and biases. This emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and diverse perspectives in RCA.

Complexity : Identifying the root cause can be challenging, especially in complex systems where multiple factors may contribute to a problem. It requires careful analysis and consideration of various interdependencies.

In conclusion, root cause analysis is a powerful problem-solving technique that aims to uncover the underlying causes of a problem. By understanding the root cause, organizations can implement targeted and effective solutions, preventing future occurrences. However, it is essential to consider the time, resources, and complexity involved in conducting a comprehensive root cause analysis.

In this article, we have discussed and compared various creative problem-solving techniques with the goal of determining the best approach for optimal results.

Design thinking, which emphasizes empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing, offers a human-centric and collaborative approach to problem-solving. It encourages innovative thinking and has been successfully applied in various industries and fields. However, design thinking may require significant time and resources to implement and may not always be suitable for complex or technical problems.

Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats technique provides a structured approach to problem-solving by encouraging different perspectives and viewpoints. Each hat represents a different mode of thinking, enabling the exploration of different angles and potential solutions to a problem. This technique is particularly effective in fostering creativity and collaboration but may lack a systematic approach for problem analysis and evaluation.

Brainstorming, whether in its traditional form or with variations like Brainwriting 6-3-5, fosters a free flow of ideas and encourages participants to think outside the box. It is a versatile technique that can be applied in different contexts and can lead to innovative solutions. However, brainstorming sessions can sometimes be dominated by a few individuals, and the sheer volume of ideas generated may require additional time and effort to evaluate and refine.

TRIZ, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, introduces a systematic and analytical approach to problem-solving. It provides a comprehensive set of principles and tools for identifying and resolving contradictions in complex problems. TRIZ has been successful in various industries and has a strong focus on innovation. However, applying TRIZ may require advanced training and expertise, and it may not be suitable for simpler or more straightforward problems.

Root cause analysis offers a structured approach to problem-solving by identifying and addressing the underlying causes of a problem. It helps prevent recurring issues and drives continuous improvement. By understanding the root causes, organizations can implement effective solutions that tackle the problem at its source. However, root cause analysis requires time, resources, and a thorough understanding of the problem to achieve accurate results.

When choosing the best technique for problem-solving, it is essential to consider the specific problem and context. Each technique has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and what works well in one situation may not be the best fit for another. It is crucial to assess the problem’s complexity, the available resources, and the desired outcome before selecting the most appropriate technique.

In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for creative problem-solving. The best results are achieved when the right technique is chosen based on the problem’s nature and context. By understanding and comparing various creative problem-solving techniques like design thinking, Six Thinking Hats, brainstorming, TRIZ, and root cause analysis, individuals and organizations can make informed decisions and apply the most suitable approach to achieve optimal problem-solving results.

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The Superheroes Technique - Innovation, Creativity & Problem Solving

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this technique - brainstorming as Superheroes in order to generate novel and useful ideas. Wondering if anyone has had success with this or a similar technique of this type?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZU-8bToXzo