Creative thinking
Generate new ideas, explore possibilities, and tap into your team’s collective intelligence — all while breaking free from automatic thinking patterns. Postpone judgment, build on ideas, and discover solutions you wouldn’t reach alone.Creative thinking
In a meeting, most people are inclined to share their idea — but only if they believe it’s the best one, or at least a solution that has been carefully thought through. Because what often happens is that someone responds with, “Yes, but…” or “That won’t work!” In other words, a critical remark that sweeps input off the table — often without even meaning to.
Creative thinking helps you reach insights, ideas, and plans you might not have thought of before — and in a short amount of time. The method enables you to tap into the collective brainpower of the group. Thanks to its different formats, everyone becomes equally involved — not just a few participants.
The human brain tends to move directly from A (the problem or challenge) to B (the solution). Along the way, many ideas and alternatives go unnoticed. Creative thinking may seem like a detour, but in the end it leads to more — and often unexpected — outcomes.
Start2Create works with more than 40 practical tools based on the creative thinking method.
As you have seen, our website is in Dutch. Do you want to know more or meet us? You can contact Kyra (06 19836263 / kyra@start2create.nl) or fill in the contact form at the bottom of this page.
How does creative thinking work?
First, you generate as many ideas as possible — quantity over quality. The second step is to make choices. That may sound easy, but in reality, people often respond with comments like:
‘Yes, but…’
‘That is impossible!’
‘It costs too much money!’
‘Why change?’
By postponing a judgment, people are able to look beyond practical boundaries. Within just two or three steps, everyone starts thinking outside the box — or begins to associate in new and unexpected ways.
Rules of play
Postpone your judgment
We all have our opinions and judgments — that’s just how the automatic brain works. When you postpone judgment, you open up creativity within yourself and within the group.
Quantity over quality
In the first few minutes, the best ideas usually appear. Don’t hesitate — say or write down everything that comes to mind.
Associate
When you hear someone share an idea, use it. Redirect, reframe, or build on what’s been said — turning it into something that might work. Instead of thinking “Yes, but…”, turn your words around and say “Yes, and…”
Courage!
Even if an idea sounds crazy, have the courage to write it down or speak it out loud. That might lead to the most unique outcomes. Also, have the courage to choose something that isn’t easy — dare to choose the unexpected.
‘Disney’-method
In our sessions, some parts are together with the whole group. Some parts ar pressure cookers within smaller groups. Disney® once found out, the best ideas arise within groups of 4.
We also see some people open up more in a smaller group setting. They say more, while they might be more hesitant to step forward in a bigger group. In the end of the day, you will see everybody has pitched an idea.
More than just ‘new ideas’
You can use creative thinking to develop new ideas and plans — but it’s more than that. The creative thinking method can also help you to:
- uncover blind spots in initiatives or plans
- develop a future vision, core values, or strategy
- translate plans & ambitions into action
- collect feedback and input from individuals or larger groups in a short amount of time
- working on ownership & approach resistance in a different way
- create engagement
- strengthen teams
You can apply these tools in almost any type of meeting, team session, or network event — with large groups, small groups, or even on your own.
Outcomes of the sessions we facilitate:
- New pilots
- Unique propositions for clients or stakeholders
- Buttom-op strategy
- Shared policy or long term plans
- Improved communication and collaboration
Results of our training program:
We train professionals in a 3-day training program.
- Being able to facilitate the brainstorm & strategy tools
- Improved interaction with and within groups
- Shorter and more effective meetings
- Improved conversation & presentation techniques
- Recognize and make use of different thinking styles
- Enhanced leadership qualities
Our sessions as well as incompany trainings are available in English.
Contact
As you have seen, our website is in Dutch. Do you want to know more or meet us? You can contact Kyra (06 19836263 / kyra@start2create.nl) or fill in the contact form.
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