Innovation and thinking differently is currently a hot buzzword and gets thrown around frequently.  Unfortunately not enough practice goes into it.

When I was younger my mom was a creativity advisor to small companies.  One thing she said to me that I’ll never forget is “You’re not born with creativity.  Creativity is a skill that needs development.  Think of it as exercising your brain muscles." 

In the past few years I have not put in the time it takes to think creatively or differently.  I would like to get back into this practice.

I recently read this article in HBR.  It has some techniques about how to think differently.

  • Just Do It: assume the persona of an innovator from another company such as Apple or Virgin, a form of role-playing that encourages clients to look at a challenge from a different point-of-view.
  • Shake It Up: When associations don’t come naturally, try forcing them to surface unnaturally — by shaking things up randomly.
  • Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that if adults practice associational thinking long enough, the task no longer exhausts but energizes them.

The last piece of advice is what hits home for me.  I need to get into the habit of practicing thinking creatively.  I remember simple exercises of just shouting or writing down what came to mind when you see or hear a word.  

Its time to break out my old Edward de Bono work on creative thinking:

  • Lateral Thinking
  • Serious Creativity
  • Six Thinking Hats