Creative thinking techniques

As part of a global innovation programme, the worldwide insurer, Allianz, has been looking to develop practical creativity in the workplace. Here Anthony Landale outlines the drivers for innovation and reports on the drive for new thinking at all levels of the business.   
  
Innovation is a big game in business. It promises to break open rigid […]

What do you do when faced by a difficult problem?
In many organisations, the only technique used to try to generate fresh thinking and new ideas is ‘the brainstorm’. Results from brainstorming sessions are often disappointing for all concerned. Then, you also have to work out how to deal with mental blocks.
The truth is that we […]

Innovation: ‘The introduction of a new idea into the marketplace in the form of a new product or service; an improvement in organisation or process.’
 
 
Mind Map 1: “Effective Innovation - John Adair” (click map for a bigger version - will open in a new window) A Mind Map® overview of the key points and
learning from […]

So how can organisations help to nurture new ideas and stimulate creative thinking?
Here are ten ideas that might help to let your people off their creative leash:
1. Challenge adversarial thinking - People with negative attitudes kill creativity so watch out for cynics, people who pull rank or those who deliberately ignore or discount other […]

As part of an Advanced Leadership Programme, the National School of Government has been teaching top civil servants how to get creative.Here Anthony Landale outlines the approach taken and reports on some of the key techniques they have been learning.
Every organisation wants to encourage creativity in its people. Why? Because it is through creativity that […]

How can you bolster your creativity? The answer to this is easy if, first, you remember that creativity isn’t the preserve of the marketing man or the R&D department and, second, you develop the appropriate thinking techniques. And here are some of the key techniques on offer. 
1.The Six Hat approach
Six Hat Thinking is a problem […]

Creativity enables people to make breakthroughs in their thinking and find better ways of working. According to Clive Lewis at Illumine Training it is precisely for these reasons that trainers need to know how to stimulate creativity among their participants.
If you are a trainer you probably think of yourself as being creative. But are you? […]

Too much focus in accelerated learning (AL) has been on how it enhances the training experience. Here Clive Lewis argues that the pressing need is for business users to start applying AL techniques to the everyday challenges they face. 
So you are familiar with accelerated learning (AL), or at least some key elements of it.  Good […]