CREATIVE

THINKING

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 Life isn’t about
finding yourself.
Life is about
CREATING
yourself.
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DEFINING CREATIVE
THINKING
• Specific thought processes which
improve the ability to be creative.
• Being in an optimal state of mind for
generating new ideas.
• The ability to think of original,
diverse and elaborate ideas.
• @ Divergent thinking (because
thought patterns and areas of belief
are expanded.
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 Everyone has substantial
creative ability.
• An ability: to generate new ideas by
combining, changing and reapplying
ideas.
• An attitude: The ability to change
• A process: The creative person
knows there is room for
improvement.

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 CHARACTERISTICS OF
A CREATIVE PERSON
• Curious
• Seeks problems
• Enjoys challenge
• Optimistic/ always looking at the bright
side.
• Able to suspend judgment
• Imaginative
• Sees problems as opportunities
• Doesn’t give up easily.
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 BUT I’M NOT
TALENTED!
• Creative thinking skills are
as much about attitude and
self confidence as about
talent.

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HOW DO I KNOW IF IM
CREATIVE?
• Creativity is often less ordered,
structured and predictable.
• As you are not looking for ONE answer,
you are likely to come up with lots of
suggestions that are NOT RIGHT.
• This can be difficult if you are more
used to analytical/ logical approach.
• Some may find it RISKY as the
prospect of making a mistake/ not
finding an answer is likely.
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SOUNDS LIKE A
BAD IDEA THEN!

WELL,… NOT
REALLY.

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 Isn’t it childish?

•In our effort to appear always

mature and sophisticated, we often
ridicule the creative, playful attitudes
that marked our younger years.
•But if you solve a problem that
saves your marriage or gets you
promoted or keeps your friend from
suicide, do you care whether other
people describe your route to the
solution as "childish?"
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 What will people think?
• Creative Person: "I like to put water in my orange
juice so it's less sweet."
Ordinary Person: "You're weird, you know?"
• O P: "What are you doing?"
C P: "We're painting our mailbox."
O P: "You're crazy."
• C P: "Why don't we add a little garlic?"
O P: "Because the recipe doesn't call for garlic."
• O P: "Why are you going this way? It's longer."
C P: "Because I like the drive."
O P: "Did anyone ever tell you you're strange?"
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 The Benefits of Creative
Thinking
• Helps people solve their problems.
• Provides a VARIETY of answers, solutions,
techniques to solve problem.
• Drives an ALTERNATIVE solution.
• Guides us to a DIFFERENT IDEA (The
road not taken?  )
• Helps one think OUT-OF-THE-BOX (far
from routine thinking)
• Proves one’s uniqueness.
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 CREATIVE THINKING
METHODS
• FIVE METHODS:
1. Evolution
2. Synthesis
3. Revolution
4. Reapplication
5. Changing Direction

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 CREATIVE THINKING
METHODS
• EVOLUTION:
Every problem that has been solved
can be solved again in a better way.

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 CREATIVE THINKING
METHODS
• SYNTHESIS:
Two or more existing ideas are
combined into a third, new idea.

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 CREATIVE THINKING
METHODS
• REVOLUTION:
Sometimes the best new idea is a
completely different unique one.

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 CREATIVE THINKING
METHODS
• REAPPLICATION:
Looking at something old in a new
way.

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 CREATIVE THINKING
METHODS

• CHANGING DIRECTION
The goal is to solve the problem,
not implement a new solution.

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A classic example is that of the highway department trying
to keep kids from skateboarding in a concrete-lined
drainage ditch. The highway department put up a fence to
keep the kids out; the kids went around it. The department
then put up a longer fence; the kids cut a hole in it. The
department then put up a stronger fence; it, too, was cut.
The department then put a threatening sign on the fence; it
was ignored. Finally, someone decided to change
direction, and asked, "What really is the problem here? It's
not that the kids keep getting through the barrier, but that
they want to skateboard in the ditch. So how can we keep
them from skateboarding in the ditch?" The solution was
to remove their desire by pouring some concrete in the
bottom of the ditch to remove the smooth curve. The sharp
angle created by the concrete made skateboarding
impossible and the activity stopped. No more
skateboarding problems, no more fence problems.
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