8 Creative Thinking Techniques with Important Tools
It is important to highlight creative thinking techniques that benefit many people. Primarily, it encourages individuality through solutions created independently from other sources and promotes individual development. Also, through practice and patience, it can be acquired; so, we’ll talk about creative thinking from this perspective together with its significance and examples. In this context, we will focus on eight creative thinking techniques to improve one’s creativity.
What is Creative Thinking?
Creative thinking involves coming up with original ideas by going beyond conventional thought patterns. This requires viewing objects differently, establishing links between what might appear as unrelated objects, and resolving problems in unconventional ways. It is an ability gained only through persistence and dedication.
Examples of Creative Thinking
- Paintings, sculptures, and music are some of the artistic creations that have been made.
- Conversely, iPhones and Tesla automobiles represent innovative products.
- Similarly, Airbnb and Uber are new business models.
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At the same time, the internet and vaccines are scientific discoveries that were made.
Why is Creative Thinking Important?
- Its high adaptability helps in facing new challenges and remaining superior to other organizations.
- Solving tough problems in ways that have never been seen before is one of its major characteristics.
- This product or service could make you feel stronger inside, and develop your analytical abilities.
- Encourages diversification and gradual improvement of an individual’s abilities.
8 Creative Thinking Techniques
1: Brainstorming
To begin with, when you brainstorm, you come up with many ideas in a very short time. Brainstorming leads to free thoughts and fosters creativity. It is the most important thing that makes you see things differently when faced with challenges.
Creative Thinking Technique 2: Reverse Brainstorming
Secondly, the purpose of reverse brainstorming is to identify a problem and develop ideas that exacerbate it. Even though it is unusual, this method helps to think about problems using a variety of ways. It also promotes imagination and enhances one’s skills in solving problems.
3: Starbursting
In addition, starbursting provides a central idea but looks at it from different perspectives to generate several ideas around it. It also triggers creative thinking and problem-solving skills among students. Of greater importance, it promotes creativity and innovation.
Creative Thinking Technique 4: Mind Mapping
Fourthly we can talk of mind mapping as visually organizing ideas and concepts. Still more, to increase creativity and problem-solving abilities. Moreover, it’s even more important to assist in solving problems by good arrangement.
5: SCAMPER
New ideas are generated by SCAMPER through the application of various perspectives. It involves substitution, combination, adaptation, modification, putting to another use, elimination, and rearrangements, for example. This goes further to boost creative thinking skills and new ways of addressing problems.
Creative Thinking Technique 6: Lateral Thinking
Sixthly, how problems are approached differently matters in lateral thinking. Additionally, creative thinking and innovation are improved by it. The most important thing is that it helps in finding new solutions to difficult problems.
Creative Thinking Technique 7: Reframing
Reframing approaches problems from different perspectives. In addition, it boosts the ability to think creatively and solve problems effectively. What is more important is that it is useful for identifying fresh solutions to persistent problems.
8: Design Thinking
Ultimately, using empathy and creativity to address challenges it faces, design thinking enhances innovation and enhances creativity and most significantly, it aims at strengthening problem-solving abilities through increasing confidence.
Here are some essential tools for idea generation:
1. Brainstorming:
A whiteboard, markers, sticky notes, or brain map-making applications like MindMeister by MeisterLabs Ltd; they also have BrainstormIt which is one such tool for creating an alternative brainstorming style.
2. Reverse Brainstorming:
Problems, whiteboard and markers together with worksheets on reverse brainstorming are examples.
3. Starbursting:
A whiteboard, markers and a starbursting worksheet represent this technique.
4. Mind Mapping:
You can use mind maps tools such as XMind or MindMeister or colored pens and markers.
5. SCAMPER:
An idea flipper software, e.g., ideaflip or SCAMPER generator app, along with generating lots of different variations through the SCAMPER worksheet’.
6. Lateral Thinking:
It is a collection of Lateral Thinking Games, Lateral Thinking Puzzles, Brain Teasers, that includes “The Thinking Game”.
7. Reframing:
Reframing Worksheet, Problem Statement, and Idea Generation Software (e.g., Reframeit, Ideaflip)
8. Design Thinking:
Design Thinking canvas, Empathy Maps and Ideation Software (e.g., Ideaflip, Design Thinking Studio).
