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Individuals, groups and lateral thinking
People who are very creative usually achieve more by themselves than in a group. For others, the opposite is true and they find it very hard to think on their own. But with the right tools, both groups can be helped to improve their thinking skills. Encouraging creativity
Creativity is not just for people with a creative temperament. Lateral thinking and its formal techniques can be learned and used deliberately by everyone. Ideas and problem solving
As the old cliché goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". But just because something isn't broken doesn't mean it can't be improved upon. Remember, not all thinking is about problem-solving. Generating possibilities
Coming up with possibilities from within the confines of an organisation can be hard because traditional management tends to prefer conclusions instead. One solution to this is to appoint a possibilities officer. Exploration, argument and creativity
Most of us are fond of arguing. But as a means of exploring a subject, argument is a primitive, crude and inefficient technique with far too much emphasis on ego. A much better way of exploring a subject is parallel thinking. Lateral thinking vs complacency
There are many reasons why complacency occurs. Some people have an aversion to taking risks. Others are frightened of creativity and new ideas because they are unsure of how to deal with them. Creativity and ideas
Everybody has the desire to be creative. Everybody ought to want to be creative. Life can be more fun, more interesting and more rewarding with creativity. When ideas die
Sometimes ideas do not survive. They are discarded or forgotten and never make it beyond the initial discussion stage. There are many and varied reasons why this happens. Creative thought and skills
Instant judgment is an enemy of creative thought. The basis of traditional brainstorming is that you suspend judgment, withhold judgment and delay judgment. Creative skills
The specific and formal skills of lateral thinking can be very powerful. There are also the basic skills of creativity. There are also the basic skills of creativity. Once these basic skills are in place, the deliberate tools of lateral thinking become much The keys to creativity
If you want to unlock your own creativity, there are three important precursors that need to be in place. Put simply, these are motivation, thinking skills and lateral thinking.
What about small ideas?
Managers should have the ability to look at something and find a way of doing it differently. But most seem to find coming up with small ideas even more difficult than coming up with big ones. New thinking needed
A World Council for New Thinking is being formed as an independent source of new ideas. At the same time, National Councils for New Thinking in individual countries are also being established. New ideas for everyone
In many organisations, new ideas represent a risk and things are maintained by complacency and routine. But complacency can mean getting left behind, which is why we all need a supply of new ideas. Creative interest
Value, and not difference is a key factor in creative thinking. Just 'being different' is enough where creativity is concerned - the 'different' thing, whatever it is, has to deliver real value. Talent, skill and lateral thinking
Some people have a seemingly bias towards creativity. For true creativity, however, you must go far beyond this general motivation - and lateral thinking can help you do that. Multiple personalities
Should we integrate creativity into our usual thinking behaviour, or should we keep it separate and then choose to 'switch' when required? This is an important question. Paying lip service
There are many organisations these days that pay lip service to the idea of innovation. However, it is not sufficient to say that you want innovation and then do nothing about it. The risk of creativity
If you are embarking on something different, new and creative, you can't be sure how it will turn out. But you can hope that putting together ingredients with known actions will produce a particular effect. Getting into focus
Acquiring the habit of creative thinking is useful, but often not enough. It is the disciplined use of creative thinking that often turns up ideas way beyond those that arise from a habit of creative thinking. A new religion - by design
Most religions focus on ultimate truths. Most emphasise the negative and tell us what we should not do. But what about devising a religion that focuses not on sins that are to be avoided but on things that are to be done. Sustaining creativity
Creativity can be stimulated by information or an event. But how does creative thought develop when there is no such stimulus? How can you achieve sustained creativity on demand? The answer is the use of lateral thinking. Why so stupid?
Human thinking is stuck in a rut. Thinking based on analysis, logic and argument was all very well in the past, but the future has to be designed – and that requires a new type of creative thinking. Appreciating value
Value sensitivity is key to entrepreneurship. Because if you cannot find value in the new idea then it is not going to be pursued or developed.
Intention is insufficient
There are misconceptions about creativity. It isn't a bolt from the blue while sitting by the river. Powerful tools and methods can be used to achieve creativity. Thinking time
Watching thinking in action can be useful because it shows us our strengths and weaknesses. But how do you observe something that happens as naturally as breathing or walking? Here's one way to develop thinking skills. Outside and inside the box
We're often encouraged to 'think outside the box'. But 'the box' isn't always restrictive and negative, and sometimes it can help us to be on the inside. Entrepreneurship by design
Entrepreneurship isn't just about having a new idea. It also needs effective design if the idea is going to take off. Is it good enough?
If you think management is all about problem-solving, you are unlikely ever to reach your full potential, argues Edward de Bono. New business ideas take time
Management thinking is too preoccupied with problem-solving. But a long-term view is essential when considering new ideas in business. Creative motivation
Creativity isn't just something that can be wielded by 'creative' people. It's a skill that everybody can and should develop, despite all its risks and uncertainties. Thinking frameworks
Intelligent people are not necessarily better thinkers. They may be able to understand and absorb information more easily, but this is different from the generalised skill of thinking. New ideas needed
The majority organisations do not feel they need new ideas because things are going very well. They could be right. But there are plenty of scenarios where new ideas are vital. To the power of four
A rigid four-team creative structure can clarify thinking within organisations and fully consider every aspect of a project. New language
The business world needs a new word. One to desscribe 'a completely justified venture which for reasons beyond your control did not succeed' - not a failure, not a mistake. So what? Values and evaluation
Values can be vague and not always well defined. We know what they are and can recognise them but searching for them is not easy because
they are not concrete. Making ideas happen
Seeking better, simpler, faster or cheaper ways to do something is everyone's business all the time. The same applies for heads of departments and divisions. Focusing on new ideas
Edward de Bono looks at the benefits of finding new ideas in areas where no problems can be found. Small business ideas to access bigger ideas
A small idea is how small, exactly? You can think of creative improvements in the fundamental process of democracy itself. You can think of much needed improvements in our concepts of economics. Implementation and ideas
Every business is an idea at some stage. But creativity is needed both to find better ways to deliver the original idea and also in adding different products, like new fruit on the same tree. |
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