Within the working environment, creativity is one of the most valuable and important human resources of all.

Businesses need people who aren't boxed in by traditional modes of thinking and who can approach situations with innovative solutions.

Without creativity, organisations carry on following the same patterns, making the same mistakes and end up only achieving same outcomes.

More importantly, without creativity, organisations risk being unable to react quickly to the forever changing market place with its new competitors and new technologies. A business without fresh ideas .... is a business without a future.

We generally associate 'creative' people as having a natural flair, however, creative thinking is a skill that can be learnt.

1. Has a curious mind
2. Views problems as opportunities
3. Enjoys a challenge
4. Is optimistic
5. Comfortable in using their imagination
6. Sees problems as being 'interesting'
7. Able to challenge assumptions
8. Acknowledges that problems are emotionally acceptable
9. Can reason confidently
10. Doesn't give up easily

Creative thought thrives when we are in certain environments, such as when we are very relaxed, with time to spare and perhaps when we are day- dreaming or only half focused on the problem. In other instances, we can be doing a completely different activity when (eureka!) a great idea just seems to pop up from nowhere.

1. Have an open mind - this is by far the most important ingredient for creative thinking.
2. Never solve a problem from its original perspective.
3. Don't get defensive about your ideas.
4. Allow yourself to make wild and crazy suggestions as well as those that seem sensible.
5. Treat all ideas as though they have the potential to develop further.
6. Allow yourself to daydream with a theory or suggestion.
7. Learn from what has not worked as well as what did.
8. Don't be satisfied with one solution. Look for another and then another.
9. If at first your don't succeed, take a break.
10. Visualise your problem as solved before solving it.

There are many techniques available to help promote creative thinking. The S.C.A.M.P.E.R. technique is based around the 6 principle ways to manipulate and gain a new perspective on something. Use this method to shake up your thinking, generate some great new ideas and get that breakthrough.

• S = Substitute - What can you substitute? What can be used instead? materials? textures? colours?
• C = Combine - What can you combine or bring together somehow? Combine purposes?
• A = Adapt - What can you adapt for use as a solution? Adapt part of the product/process to see how you could change the nature of the product/process?
• M = Modify - Can you change the item in some way? What can be exaggerated? overstated? multiplied? duplicated? extended? How can you make it stronger? longer? safer? thicker? faster? higher? How can you add extra features? extra ingredients? extra frequency? more value? more expense? more time?
• P = Put to other uses - How can you put the thing to different or other uses? What's the most unconventional, unusual new use you can imagine? What's a bizarre new twist on this? What could this be used for in 10 years time?
• E = Eliminate - Eliminate various parts of the product/process and consider what you might do. What if it were smaller? broken into smaller pieces? reduced? What could you leave out? cut back on?
• R = Rearranged/Reversed - What can be rearranged in some way? other layout? other sequence? Make the negatives in to positives and vice versa?

Creative Thinking is just one of many subjects covered by our hugely popular Rapid Results® 90 minute training sessions. With over 24 topics to choose from, these lively and interactive sessions are packed with tips and ideas to really get your people switched on! Click here for more information on bite sized learning that sticks!

Next Month ... Assertiveness