Creative Thinking

Creative thinking is an essential part of successful brand management. Try out these challenges, quizzes, tools and techniques - just what you need to get the ideas flowing!   Change its name! To find a fresh way of looking at a challenge, just change its name! You'll start to see new opportunities right away. Take a look at a quick and simple example, and start applying this technique to your own challenges... »» Go blitz, romance, network Contrarian thinking You've probably heard of contrarian thinking. Most often it is associated with investment advice, but contrarian thinking creates opportunities for brands too... »» Go How we think Do you ever think about how you think? If this seems like a strange question, then think again... »» Go The three components of business creativity We need more than just creative thinking skills to be creative in the workplace. Research by Teresa Amabile suggests that two other components are required... »» Go Challenge your assumptions We all make assumptions, we use them to guide our thinking. The problem arises when our assumptions start to limit our thinking, or send us down the wrong path. Here are some classic examples of capable people coming to completely inappropriate conclusions, because of their assumptions. »» Go Just ask 'Why'? Sometimes, as we look for approaches to creative thinking, we forget that many of the most powerful techniques are also the simplest... »» Go The story of the Gordian Knot Alexander the Great remains one of the most successful leaders in recorded history. Find out how he solved this challenge, the problem of 'The Gordian Knot'. »» Go Getting a new perspective on the problem Here's another quick technique for getting a different perspective on a problem (or opportunity!). Whatever the issue you are addressing, this technique can help you come up with new ideas, new approaches, new solutions. It's quick, simple and fun! »» Go How to use de Bono's 'Six Thinking Hats' to improve your thinking skills You've probably heard of de Bono's 'Six Thinking Hats' but do you know why they are so useful? Here is a quick introduction to improve your thinking skills. »» Go How far did the fly fly? A great little creative thinking puzzle. How far did the fly fly? »» Go A really terrible number puzzle This little puzzle is almost guaranteed to drive you mad! Check it out and see if you are one of the few people that see the solution. »» Go 1 x 3 + 9 / 12 (2 / 19) Thousands of marketing ideas in minutes - the 'matrixing' tool Thousands of marketing ideas in minutes! Generating ideas is critical to any business or individual who wants to survive in today's rapidly changing environment. And there is a lot of advice around on the topic, but there aren't too many practical tools and techniques. This time in Creative Thinking we look at one way of generating thousands of ideas, very, very quickly. »» Go Connect the dots This is the first of three challenges, and the easiest. How can you connect the dots, without taking your pen off the paper, and using only FOUR straight lines. »» Go Are you creative? When the pace of change was slower managers could thrive with little thought about 'being creative'. But in the fast-changing times in which we live being creative is an essential skill. If you can't create you won't last long. So we ask you a simple question, and offer some food for thought. »» Go Brainstorming Brainstorming is a basic idea-generation technique, but very few people do it properly. Learn the rights and wrongs of brainstorming and how it can help you generate lots of ideas in a short time. »» Go Channel your creativity into building a strong brand All these 'Creative Thinking' articles can inspire new ideas. All these ideas need to be evaluated and channeled into your brand-led marketing. If you want to learn how to harness creative ideas to strengthen your own brand, as part of a structured brand management process, you need our brand management Manual. »» Go