Creative thinking means facing something in different ways. Also known“thinking outside the box.” creativity in the story ‘Sherlock homes’ involves lateral thinking.
Creative people have the ability to find new ways to carry out tasks, solve problems, and meet challenges. They bring a fresh, and sometimes unorthodox, perspective to their work. This way of thinking can help organizations move in more productive directions. For these reasons, creative people are extremely valuable to a company.
You can strengthen your creative thinking by,
- By solving riddles
- Being aware of your assumptions
- Connect with the person who is creative in your organization.
Here are 4 types of creative thinking,
1. Divergent thinking
The element of divergence is involved in the creative process says the American psychologist J.P. Guilford. He made a distinction between convergent and divergent ways which he also called convergent and divergent thinking.
Divergent thinking is the process of thought where a person uses flexibility, fluency, and originality. Explore as many solutions or options to a problem or issue as possible. It is the opposite of convergent thinking, which has the characteristic to focus on only one idea or single solution.
This technique is however limited because it gives ideas that are already stored in a person’s brain, and not to generate any new ideas.
2. Lateral thinking
Creativity researcher Edward De Bono came up with the term “lateral thinking” in 1967 to “distinguish between artistic creativity and idea creativity”. The term was invented as an alternative to step-by-step thinking, so-called vertical thinking, which is justified with sequential steps based on logic.
Lateral thinking generates new ideas and problem-solving. Similarly, this type of thinking is based on avoiding the limitations in the brain, which handles information in a distinctive way.
3. Systems thinking
Systems thinking is the ability to see how things are interrelated and form a larger “whole”. Some people seem to be able to perceive such links more easily than others, like “connect the dots”. Understand that if one thing is changed, the whole system will change.
Systems thinking is closely related to aesthetic thinking. In contrast, it is related to elegance and beauty. This type of creative thinking concerns the perception of receiving insights from somewhere or someone else. It often happens in dreams or other states. but sometimes in extreme clarity and focus. So, some researchers call these breakthrough insights “higher creativity”
4. Aesthetic thinking
The philosophy of aesthetics concerns the creation of art and beauty. Taste is also a key concept here and the study of for instance form, colour and shape can augment a person’s aesthetic thinking. Furthermore, this type of thinking involves producing or discovering things, which are pleasant, harmonious and beautiful to our senses.
Likewise, many chemists, physicists, and mathematicians consider their work elegant and aesthetic. Many aspects of storytelling can also be included in this category, as this “art” is based on dramaturgic elements, pace, a well-crafted dialogue, etc. However, this type of creative thinking might be enough to build a story. But creating great work of art, not only needs aesthetic thinking but also other types of creative thinking is needed. A person will not become a great artist only by going to art school.
“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.”– Edward De Bono
What is your type of thinking to be creative?
Creative thinking can improve your productivity and helps to achieve financial independence and can foster your early retirement.
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