IWBGI
It would be great if… this visionary statement enables broad thinking about the future both in desirable an undesirable outcomes. This divergent tool generates many alternatives to encourage imagining a future state. Dreaming is the all important affect for Visionary Thinking. Dreams may well put an imaginary stake in the ground. And so be it. Rather than focus on a problem to solve, creative thinking encourages rising to a challenge inline with a desired goal. After all, IWBGI we focus energy and skill on shaping outcomes that add value, bring joy and realize the vivid image of that which we wish to create.
Exploring the Vision
The vision is the set up for success.
If you don’t know where your're going, you’ll end up somewhere else.
Vision are deliberately dreamy, pie in the sky desires and wishes for a future state. The more audacious and bold, the better. And even a vision for something more simple like a successful holiday or party is significant. Having a vision is a ‘what,’ for a desired future state. Without vision, there is no destiny to achieve, no pull forward. What’s left are only actions to manage. Moving in a direction of intention is the value of having a vision. By imagining something is possible, regardless of current reality, a mind-set that anything is achievable becomes a new a way of thinking on both subconscious and conscious levels. Visionary companies outlast all others because they are forward thinking.
Having clarity on a goal, wish or challenge creates a singular focus through which creative efforts create and drive energy for achievement.
If/Then Analysis
Key Word Search. Check.
Move onto If/Then Analysis.
If/Then is the last of the metacognitive tools that deliberately stands above the CPS process to identify where to begin in the six remaining CPS steps in the process.
This is a straight forward analysis tool for process analysis. Here’s how it works-
If you’re looking to set goals…then go to Exploring the Vision.
If you’re wanting to understand what’s in the way of the goal…then go to Formulating Challenges
If you’re clear on the challenge and, if overcome, will move you closer to the goal…then go to Exploring Ideas.
If your ideas need to be transformed into workable solutions…then go to Formulating Solutions.
If you to want ensure the solutions will be supported in the environment…then go to Exploring Acceptance.
If you want to know the necessary and sequential process to implement...then go to Formulating a Plan.
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Key Word Search
The words used to describe a situation initiate an orientation as to what is needed as a next step. And by next step, we really mean where to begin in the Creative Problem Solving process. While CPS has a beginning, middle and end, the model is flexible and each phase can be engaged independently of the others. Starting at the beginning is always a great place to start because visionary organizations outlast all others.
After the gathering, covering for key data, noting the 4I’s, its time for a Key Word Search.
Create a one sentence task statement from the key data. This will provide a short summary the tasks.
Verbs are the strongest indicator of the task. The verbs used in the task statement provide clues as to where to begin in the CPS process. The verb points to the type of thinking required and therefore the most relevant process step in CPS as an entry and beginning point.
Not sure of the verbs ? Try another. (If you’re stuck, think about diverging with a Word Dance until you feel you’ve got it.) Identify the verb/statement that best describes what it is you wish to do.
Note: if working in groups, consensus building is key in agreeing on a final task assessment.
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4I’s Complete Diagnosis
You’ve got the key data. What’s the next step?
Identify the following -
Influence - Are you in a position to impact or change the situation?
Imagination - Does the situation require creative thinking, and is the group open to new thinking ?
Interest - is this important, does the team have energy to spend on the situation?
Immediacy - Does the situation require attention now-ish?
The 4I megacognitive tool requires thinking about thinking to determine if the problem warrants Creative Problem Solving? If so, or even if not sure, proceed to the Key Word Search for an alignment of the task with the CPS process in order to make progress in the problem with new, organized thinking that leverages imagination for shaping solutions that are novel and useful.
Creativity Principals
The Three Creative Problem Solving Principals
1. Divergent Thinking 2. Convergent Thinking 3. Incubation
If creativity is the language of what might be then the question of how to get to the what-might-be -it-ness has to have a process.
Language is a system for communication. What and how we communicate varies across languages, cultures and time. There are grammatical structures, parts of speech, idioms and concepts for communication in dialects, official languages and for social media.
The language of creativity has its own structures. We must follow them if we are to become creative.
Divergent and Convergent Thinking and Behaving to include Incubation are the guiding principals to enable creativity, regardless of domain. Creative Problem Solving has universal applicability to complex situations.
At the core of Creative Problem Solving is the creative process itself. Just like breathing in an out is automatic and ongoing, the two alternative actions of divergent and convergent thinking and behaving provide a dynamic balance enabling the CPS process to flow in a way that is unique to creative process across the entirety of the complex problem solving model.
Curiosity is the way into being creative. With a question, a wondering, there is a ‘wanting to know’. This is where an exploration of possibility begins. Certainly, there is language and tools to engage curiosity. And before that, activating the principals of creativity provide the mental environment for exploring what might be before decision making.
To diverge is to go in different directions. To converge is to focus. To incubate is to rest. When taken together, creativity happens, consciously and not. CPS deliberately operationalizes creative process for complex problems solving.
Rules for Divergent Thinking
defer judgement 2. go for quantity 3. make connections 4. seek novelty
Deferring judgment is crucial. If judgement starts, divergent thinking stops. Judgment does have its place, as a convergent tool, but only after an exploration of possibilities and options. Going for quantity is simply this: in quantity there is quality. With mobile devices today, most everyone knows that taking lots and lots of pictures is the surest way to find “the one.”
We make connections naturally, humans are associative thinkers and learners. Powerful new thinking can emerge by cross-fertilizing of ideas among teams with different focus. Infact intersectional creativity can be quite powerful. As and example, a waffle iron inspired Nike running shoes. Seeking Novelty is simply going for it, by stretching thinking to the max for breakthroughs and more new ideas. This is the part where it gets fun and maybe even little crazy, the good kind. That’s important because really brilliant new ideas are always crazy at first.
Rules for Convergent Thinking
apply affirmative judgment 2. keep novelty alive 3. check objectives 4. stay focused
Effective critical thinking defines affirmative judgment. Rather than faultfinding, affirmative judgement sets a sustainable constructive tone for considering both positives and negatives. New insights resulting from divergent thinking are often imperfect and not fully formed. Looking for what is right rather than what is wrong is the approach for nurturing creativity. Leaders especially must focus on technical feedback to enable further development and improvement. Bypassing premature criticism bypasses the potential for withdraw and this is especially important because new ideas are incomplete thoughts, fragile in their formative stage. In a word, rather than react, often with outright criticism, becoming responsive with deliberate structured feedback immediate empowers an opportunity for further development.
Keeping novelty alive builds on seeking novelty though divergent thinking. Unexpected situations may in fact be new, often unforeseen opportunities. To reference a famous Chinese proverb, a mistake is a hidden opportunity.
Checking objectives refers to staying in tuned with the goal and usefulness of the goal. Creativity is a dynamic balance between what is new and useful. Too extreme on either side and something might be too creative and not useful enough. Too useful and not interesting simply dull.
Staying focused requires reflection and sense of purpose. Evaluative, convergent thinking is just as important a divergent thinking. Both divergent and convergent thinking require the same amount of attention. Alteration between intuition and careful critical thinking best refine early analysis in processing information.
Incubation: The Wild Card
The wild card supports both conscious aspects of divergent and convergent thinking and reaches further into human capacity. Incubation is deliberately making time for aha problem solving moments that often come during the night, in the early morning or while doing something completely unrelated to the problem. Going to sleep with a question is a long known approach for the unconscious mind to get to work and do what it does best, solve problems. Because incubation naturally leads to new thoughts, creative leaders and everyone in general would do well to have an idea book always at their side.
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Key Data
Creative Problem Solving is a the thinking person’s process for navigating complexity.
A skillful ability to assess the situation at any given time is to identify where in the problem the situation is and to determine the next step.
The purpose of diagnosing a situation is ultimately to tease out key data. The skill of assessing the situation is important for many reasons-
Leaders are inundated with information. Leaders are information gatekeepers, controlling flow of relevant and important information. Knowing what and when to share information is a an ongoing practice.
The quality of the decisions leaders make largely reflect and determine values, culture and ultimately the quality of interactions among the team.
Because leaders operate in a fluid situation, and ability to always monitor situations, make adjustments and respond, often quickly, to new situations is imperative.
Casting a wide net for information gathering ensures not missing out on important information.
Context matters. Rich information is important for broad understanding.
Beyond just gathering information, leaders must also interpret data for meaning and new insights.
Leaders must be cognizant of process and content for broad understanding of a situation.
We are all leaders in some way. Don’t we lead our own lives? We make decisions every day about what to make for dinner, what to study, what job to take, where to go on holiday, where to invest etc.
Assessing the Situation is where Creative Problem Solving begins, because it tells us where to begin in the Creative Problem Solving Process.
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The Dynamic Balance
At the heart of Creative Problem Solving is The Dynamic Balance. In fact, at the heart of creativity is The Dynamic Balance. As a process, the first step, after gathering information of course, is to diverge. An exploration of what might be, is always how we begin in being creative. Creativity is iterative in exploring and determining outcome.
This key piece,The Dynamic Balance, is missing from society writ large. It wasn’t always this way though. The European Renaissance and the US Space Age are just two highlights of a cultural affinity and dedication toward what might be. As a practice, scientists can only make discoveries after much exploration, research and failure. Entrepreneurs can only succeed at innovation if they are first deliberately creative.
Sadly, curiosity as a way into learning has been in decline for decades, resulting as a malaise for problem solving. It is well known that creativity is taught out of us by age 10. And because The Dynamic Balance is so overlooked, it would be really great to billboard the good news about creativity all over the world. Imagine this plastered all over the airwaves:
Creativity can be learned! Start with The Dynamic Balance and you’re on your way.
In a more scaled back public announcement, here’s the deal: to be creative is to diverge first ALWAYS before converging as a matter of process. Period. EXCLAMATION POINT!
Diverging before converging is known as The Dynamic Balance in creativity and is an integral part of every stage of the CPS process.
Starting with The Executive Step, CPS begins with gathering information, a divergent activity. What might be relevant? What information needs to be included from both the head and the heart? Gathering data comes from open ended, creative questions and creative statement starters.
A survey of data points and emotional awareness around this situation are all contributory factors in making a diagnosis.
Once data are collected only then is it appropriate to converge, determine what stands out.
This process reveals key data as the beginning point for the CPS process to begin in clarifying the challenge.
The Executive Step
Gathering
What’s been on your mind lately?
What’s a brief history?
Who’s involved?
What’s relevant, What matters?
Imagine it is a year from now.
If you could wave a magic wand and achieve anything
or be on your way to achieving whatever you want, what would it be?
These types of open ended questions deliberately seek to gather information. CPS always begins with the metacognitive process of Assessing the Situation. Diagnostic thinking externally identifies and maps problems in a neutral environment. In doing this, an understanding of what might be the problem/s and where the problem owner is in the problem can emerge.
Taking time to find the problem saves time, reduces stress, and improves outcome.
“If I had an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.” - Albert Einstein
Effective diagnosis is at the heart of good problem solving and having good information is key for clear diagnosis. Diagnosing problems has two purposes. First, gathering a wide range of data clarifies what is relevant to the challenge. Second, it makes sense to take the time to determine if CPS necessary, and if so, determine where to begin in the challenge. After all, not all problems are complex…
Here’s a tip, if it’s not 1+1 and obviously linear or sequential, chances are the problem is complex. Complex problems have more than one entry point, can be understood and processed any number of ways and could have any number of outcomes. Put simply, complex problems are ambiguous.
Gathering begins as a divergent process. It is unique in that gathering hard data and data from the five senses are all valid and contributory to the problem finding process. Facts, information, descriptions, as well as intuitive sources, hunches and emotions are all equally contributory data.
Diagnostic thinking draws on the affective skill of Mindfulness; it is in reflection, awareness and becoming present to the situation that understanding and realizations can emerge. In using feelings as a source of data, we tap into intuitive knowledge and sense of the situation as guiding resources. Because creativity starts with the individual, self awareness and becoming present with one’s self allows pathways for underststanding, for exploration and for decision making to move forward in any direction
Creative Problem Solving relies equally on data points from the head and heart. And so we problem find from two angles. Tap into the head- does this make sense? Tap into the heart- do I feel this is important to the gathering process? It is the very range and variety of data that provides a divergent pool from which choices, decisions, and actions for next steps are made. To make decisions from a wide range of data, Mindfulness has an important role in this executive step of Creative Problem Solving. Becoming present to the situation means a self awareness in contemplating the generation of data.
Diagnosis for CPS is rather like a visit to a medical doctor who needs symptomatic diagnosis before prescribing any treatment. Unlike a medical doctor, however, diagnosis in CPS draws both on symptomatic information and the affective skills of Mindfulness in making a diagnosis.
With rich data from the head and the heart, a leader may be able to quickly prioritize the challenge and determine where to start in a process of Creative Problem Solving.
#creaetiveleadership
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Word Dance for PAR
We begin as we intend to proceed. And that is to collaborate using creative process through all aspects of this study.
What is Action Research? A creative thinking tool not only for understanding terms but also for deepening and expanding perspectives and shared insight.
Creative process through education provides a medium for filtering information. I like to think of creativity in education as a scaffold, a framework through which information can be processed, filtered and tossed around for new meaning making.
Word Dance Action Research
A Word Dance is an ideational tool and fits easily into education, especially for defining terms. Because there are so many ways of learning and knowing, educators can never rely on just one or even two words to clarify a definitive meaning. And besides, defining words with just one word is very limiting, if not convergent (more on that creative principal later).
I like to start word dances like this, “What’s another word for the word ‘word’”? After the blank stares, laughter begins. I always have to repeat the question. “Seriously, what’s another word for the word ‘word’”?
“Expression,” “Letters,” “Meaning,” “A Thought”. You get the idea.
Word dances work best with two or three words that form an expression or concept, such as “Participatory Action Research”.
By diverging on all three words, we recombine new definitions to create new meaning.
Word Dance Participatory Action Research
As the facilitator, I could not come up with a novel and useful definition. Nor should I. Creativity has a social attribute.
Together we crafted something entirely new.
Here’s the magic with Word Dances-
1. Everyone contributes to meaning making.
2. Combining new words into new word combinations creates new, unforeseen thinking.
3. The best part is the result: a shared and deeper understanding emerges as that is novel and useful for the group.
#creativeleadership