Creative thinking techniques
| Creative thinking techniques |
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Creative thinking techniques can contribute to achieve more by creating original ideas. They help to improve business and personal life. In general, they show how to create and get ideas. Such techniques help people to overcome their fears, uncertainties, improve their self-confidence and get rid of doubts in themselves (M. Michalko 2006, s.3)
There are two main types of thinking. The first one is called convergent thinking which is used when the person wants to select the best idea from many ideas which were gathered during creative thinking sessions. This thinking is critical and logical. Second type is called divergent thinking. This type of thinking is the ability to elaborate diverse ideas. By developing this kind of thinking the person can become a visionary and innovator (H. La Verne Abe 2014, s.96)
Techniques of creative thinking
In order to be more creative, a person can use different kinds of creative thinking techniques, including (H. La Verne Abe 2014, s.97-118):
- Finding an inspiration means that a person should find someone who inspires him or her, or something which happens and which causes that a person is ready to take action.
- Unwinding means that sometimes it is good for a person to find a quiet place. It can be his or her favourite place like a bench in nearby park. It can clear someone's head and contribute to create new, fresh ideas.
- Having conversations means that a person should have conversations with creative and intelligent people. It can contribute to feel more inspired.
- Remembering about childhood means that people should e.g. visit a store for children from time to time. Childlike wonder causes that people are curious about the world which can contribute to create new, great ideas.
- Making a mind-map means that a person should draw relations between concepts. It is a way of making creative notes. It gives the opportunity to make up new ideas.
- Brainstorming. This is one of the most popular technique when it comes to generate new ideas. There is a common belif that more ideas are generated in a group. It is based on thinking about ideas and then modify others ideas or think how to combine and multiple them.
- 6-3-5 method. This technique is also called brainwriting. There are six participants, everyone define a problem, a paper with the statement is passed out, each of them has to create 3 ideas and the paper of each contributor relocate 5 times, so that everyone has the opportunity to give their ideas on each problem statement.
- Methaporic Thinking. It is known as a mental process in which different things or qualities are compared and substituted to each other. It means that e.g. a phrase which means one can be used to talk about other thing.
- TRIZ. This technique is based on the fact that there is someone somewhere who has solved a problem which was similar to ours. TRIZ is a database where can be found solutions to many problems. When a person finds out what others did to solve a similar problem, he or she can adapt this solution and adjust it to his or her problem.
References
- DiYanni R. (2016), Critical and Creative Thinking. A Brief Guide for Teachers, Wiley, New Jersey
- Lau J. F. Joe (2011), An Introduction to Critical Thinking and Creativity: Think More, Think Better, Wiley, New Jersey
- La Verne Abe H. (2014), Idea Engineering: Creative Thinking and Innovation, Momentum Press, New York
- Michalko M. (2006), Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques, Ten Speed Press, New York
Author: Katarzyna Krzyk, Adrianna Kuzak, Julia Kotlarz
