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Creativity at work is not about getting in touch with your muse – rather it is all about developing new perspectives and solving practical problems - which is why it is particularly relevant to managers and their teams.

In this provocative article, Clive Lewis discusses the challenge facing leaders everywhere as they grapple with how to do more with less and be seen to be adding value to the organisations they lead.

Did you know that everyone can be creative – even the most logical of thinkers? Some people are naturally more creative than others, but we are all capable of developing our creativity from whatever level it is currently at.

In business and the public sector, creative thinking sometimes gets a bad press. There are lots of reasons for this, but one mistake above all others ensures that far too often, time is wasted and results from time spent trying to be creative, is wasted. In this short article, Clive Lewis, CEO of Illumine Training, [...]

 A common problem for teams who work towards a common purpose but do different things for most or all of the time, is how to build co-operation and understanding across the team. Most enlightened team leaders recognise either explicitly or implicitly the unique and valuable contribution each team member is able to make. However, it [...]

This short article is about using the power of categories and hierarchical thinking to power up your generation of ideas.
OK, so you’ve been challenged to come up with ideas for brightening up your office and the first two suggestions are:
- Paint the walls (1)
- Fit brighter bulbs (2)
We are going to take each of these ideas and [...]

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 [...]

We all know how to think and learn, right? Not according to Clive Lewis, Director of Illumine, the training company that specialises in thinking, learning and creativity.
Being able to think, learn and work effectively used to be regarded as ‘nice to haves’. This perspective was often combined with the view that our ability to learn, [...]

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 manager, trainer or facilitator you probably think of yourself as being creative. [...]

Don’t be defensive minded; use smart thinking to underpin your career success. In this article we highlight five essential skills which can help you to stay on the front foot.

Look at your life and all its aspects and activities, and consider, one by one, reversing everything!
This exercise will give you a fresh look at who you are and what you do, and will allow you to make changes where appropriate, and to leave things as they are when you realise they are satisfying [...]

A common problem for teams who work towards a common purpose but do different things for most or all of the time, is how to build co-operation and understanding across the team. Most enlightened team leaders recognise either explicitly or implicitly the unique and valuable contribution each team member is able to make. However, it [...]

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 [...]

Problem = something difficult to deal with or solve; question or puzzle set for solution
Opportunity = favourable time or condition; good chance
What are your problems?
As soon as you start thinking about the exact nature of your problems you’ll recognise that they come in two rather different shapes. In the first instance, you will tend to [...]

Let’s face it, many organisations today wave the corporate flag for creativity, but far fewer are able to point to specific improvements that have arisen from creative initiatives. And many seem to remain focused on the ‘same old – same old’.
They should be able to do so. Creativity is a ‘must- have’; both for individuals [...]

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 [...]

Many people shy away from giving a presentation. But if you keep it simple and concentrate on the big picture, you can make your point, says Clare Gascoigne
Put together all the people in Britain who suffer from agoraphobia, claustrophobia and arachnophobia and you still wouldn’t match the number of people who are scared of standing [...]

These tips were taken from an article that featured in the Top Tricks section of the Evening Standard that Clive Lewis, Illumine’s Training Director recently contributed to.
A little creative thinking can bring a sparkle to your projects. Are you a creative thinker? With these simple techniques you can be by taking an inspired and unusual perspective… 
 
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