How to get out of the impasse and creativity to solve any problem

Whether you are a creative person or not. No matter what you need ideas - for business or a new play. Creativity lives in each of us, and it is responsible for the production of non-standard ideas. Tells how to get the brain to generate them.

What are the types of thinking

Think back to when you last attempted to find a way out of difficult situations. Surely you have asked yourself, "How to do? How to do it best? "In other words, you are trying to find a better option. This is the essence of convergent thinking. The disadvantage of this approach is that you do not choose the best of the best, and the first thing that comes to mind. Or, second, third - it does not change the fact. To choose the most successful solution is necessary after you have come up with dozens of innovative ideas!

There are two types of thinking, which are designed to find not correct, and the new solution:

• Divergent - when we try to go beyond the obvious.
• Lateral - when one looks at the problem from different angles.

Check what type of thinking is better developed in you.

Test of divergent thinking (2 minutes)

Race against the clock 1 minute. Think and write down all the yellow items that you know. After time Race against the clock 1 more minute and continue the list of yellow objects.

Count how many items turned out. Surely one of the first words you means "sun" and "lemon". At first come to mind most banal things, so the masters for the development of creativity are advised to discard the first ideas. Pay attention to the second list. Perhaps you have there 2-3 points, but less obvious than in the first list.

The test for lateral thinking (2 minutes)

Below you will see the letters sets, which are part of words denoting nationality. Name these nationalities.

Which set of letters was the most difficult to decipher? Perhaps "NLCH"? Since it stands for? You do not know? This is the "Englishman".

Unlike "NLCH" in the rest of the set the first letter corresponds to the first letter of the full word. Deciphering words, your brain has constructed a certain model. After reaching the last set, he began briskly to sort out the country, starting with "H", and did not find matching.

Lateral thinking - is the destruction of stereotypes. It was possible to put down the gaps - "_ H _ L _ _ W", and then you would be more likely to decipher the "Englishman".

The most common error when generating ideas - too quick transition to converged stage.

Linger on the steps of the lateral and divergent thinking will help the three magic words: "Yes, what else?". Ask yourself about it every time you feel a good idea. This is not enough. The idea should be stunning!

How to generate ideas

Tells how to wake up the creative thinking that ideas come themselves to my head. During creative sessions can work in a group or alone.

Step 1. We create a space for ideas

During the creative session you should not have anything to distract. Turn off all notifications, and go away from your desk. The unusual situation will encourage lateral thinking. The main thing - it should be quietly.

Step 2. Determine the time to be creative

Remember that first come trite ideas, so you need time to swing. Expect that the search for creative solutions will take 45-60 minutes.

The table below shows the stages of the creative session and approximate time on which to navigate.

Step 3. "Tweet" a creative idea

Twitter has imposed restriction of us in 140 characters, and this makes sense. If the idea can be summed up in one tweet, so you know where you're going. Write on the card project goal, look for formulations that meet the specified number of characters. Try to write a few tweets for different audiences, and choose the best option.

For example, a tweet about this article is this: "The techniques that can help you find new ideas, to cut off bad and sell the best." It is only 80 characters. You can even add a call to action "to develop their creative abilities" - and still get less than 140 characters.

Step 4. Organize brainstorming

At this stage, ideally should connect someone else, for example, friends or colleagues. Below are tips for organizing brainstorming in a group, but also for a single session, they can also be applied.

• Your task - to relieve tension. For example, introverts They may refuse to express ideas, until finally they will consider. Use different brainstorming techniques. So, anyone can write their ideas on the sticker.
• At the beginning of the session tell anecdote or funny story of life, to stir up the participants.
• Do not reject the crazy ideas. It is much easier to find a meaning in it than to revive the banal idea.
• session participants should express all the ideas that have come to them in the head, regardless of whether they are good or bad. Conveyed to them the idea.
• Treat all proposals equally. For example, just write them down without a value judgment. If you criticize or praise, people will try to guess what you really want.
• Dokruchivayte ideas of others. Sometimes a good idea can grow into a good one.
• Take breaks every half hour. People can not be creative for a long time to order.
• Be prepared for the fact that the participants will come to the idea and after the session. Make sure they know who to call.

Step 5. We use creativity development tools

on the development of technology creativity to help break the deadlock. Use them in group sessions or when you are alone to puzzle over the problem.

rights violators

Make a list of all the rules that are normally observed. Ask: "What we always do? As we made? "Then think of opposites for each rule.

For example, the language school has always hires qualified teachers. What might be the opposite? In general, no teachers. Yes, what else? Non-professionals? They can share their knowledge in return for training. Trainees... Maybe they can teach older employees to use social networks. And so on. Select the most appropriate decisions, which will develop.

mission Impossible

Make a list of all the constraints within which you have to work (eg, budget, personnel recruiting, resources, schedule). Take one of these restrictions and tightened it until it does not turn into "an impossible mission":

• How can we do it in one day?
• How we can do it for free?
• How can we do this without additional staff?

Ask yourself, whose help you would have to resort to cope with the mission, despite the extremely restrictive.

Taming of crazy ideas

If you really dive into the creative process, be sure to come a time when you look at an idea and think, "That's crazy." What you seem crazy and impractical idea may resonate, if we look at it heart.

This idea can be used as a starting point to search for other solutions.

List all the reasons why you like this crazy idea. For each reason, write a small plan to implement the ideas within the constraints that exist in the project. Analyze what fresh ideas emerged during this exercise. In which preserved the spirit of the original crazy ideas?

Remember: it is much easier to tame the crazy idea than to breathe life into a weak one. Use technology for the development of creativity and the creative impasse will be the beginning of the original design in your life.

Based on the book "I want more ideas"Steve Rowling.

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