The Behaviour Effect

Edward de Bono is regarded as the leading international authority in creative thinking.  He coined the term ‘lateral thinking’ and is well known for his ‘6 hats’ method.  It was while dipping into his book ‘Serious Creativity’ that I noticed the section on sources of creativity and thought how interesting it was to investigate where creativity comes from and from what does it originate.

Understanding where the roots of creativity are will help put it in perspective, just as an increased understanding of any process  helps us improve our capability in it.  I’m hoping that some of these sources will surprise you and maybe even encourage you to utilise them more often.  So here goes….Edward de Bono’s Sources of Creativity….

Innocence

If we do not know the usual way of doing things,  the usual solutions or approach then we come up with our own.  A fresh approach.  If you are not restricted by knowing the constraints in a given situation then you will come up with something novel.  It’s difficult to be creative in your own industry – you might be able to be novel in another.

Experience

The creativity of experience is really about seeking to build upon and repeat past experiences.  We amend, add to or repackage things that we did previously.

Motivation

Most people who are creative derive their creativity from Motivation.   This means a willingness to spend hours instead of minutes coming up with a better way of doing things or taking the time to look at things that no one else has looked at.  It’s all about time and effort.

Tuned Judgement

The person who is skilled in tuned judgement does not initiate ideas.  They recognise the potential of an idea at an early stage.  They base their judgement on feasibility, the market etc…  An idea that is developed is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.  Seeing value in an idea is in itself a creative act.

Chance, Accident, Mistake and Madness

I’m sure you can think of a time when things were going along swimmingly but due to a mistake or accident they take a different swing.  Many of the greatest advances were the result of mistakes.  The first antibiotic, immunology and Columbus heading to the Indies to name but a few.  Post-it notes to name a lesser advance   This type of creativity takes thinking out of the reasonable and pushes boundaries.

Style

Working within a particular style can generate products which are new but only due to the style being applied.  High in practical value but not the same as generating new ideas.

Release

Releasing yourself from fears and inhibitions can generate creativity.  This only goes so far though and to be truly useful it is necessary to gain a quick appreciation of new values in order to be of practical sense.

Lateral Thinking

Systematic techniques can be used formally and deliberately to generate new ideas.  You’ll have heard of de Bono’s 6 hats for example.  The important point about applying techniques is that these techniques can be learned and used.

What do you think?  Given you some pause for thought? For creativity? How many of the sources do you currently use?

What happens when a task is to be completed and you are the best qualified, most experienced, best-informed person to complete that task?  You complete the task.  Seems logical doesn’t it?  When delegating tasks you naturally assess the skill required for the task and choose the person best suited to complete it.  Ok, you take into consideration development needs and time available but do you take anything else into consideration?

If you know you are the best person for the job at hand, do you ever ask others for their advice?

Behavioural scientist Patrick Laughlin have shown that the approaches and outcomes of groups that work together are better than the average member working alone but also….better than the group’s best member working alone!

Input from others can stimlate the thinking process.  Ever heard a comment someone has made which has ignited an idea in your mind? The insight may have been delivered by you but the spark…that was created by someone else.  We are all aware of the importance and value of having a sounding board but do we all take advantage of it?

Seeking input from your colleagues will not only encourage creativity and parallel processing but will create a better team environment as well.  Asking for input from others and valuing that input – whether you use the input or not – will build closer relationships and better rapport.

So next time you are the best person for the job – ask for help and suggestions – you’ll achieve more and gain more than better outcomes for the current task.

The more vigorous and diverse your mental life, the more you will stimulate the growth of new neurons and new connections between them.  Different cognitive challenges exercise different components of the brain.  Much in the same way as no single exercise machine will make you physically fit, instead you need a balanced and diverse workout.

So here are a few logic and creative puzzles for you today…. to keep your Brain ticking over….

1) Alternate Universe

Mr. Bee Zarro claims to come from a parallel universe where afternoon comes before noon, tomorrow comes before yesterday, and later comes before now.  But you don’t need to go to a parallel universe to see the same things happen.  Where can you see this here on Earth?

2) All Together Now

What letter completes this group of 4?     J, P, G, ?

3) Take 30

Alf was the 93rd caller to a radio-station and was told he would win a car if he could go into a room and come out exactly 30 minutes later.  The room had no clock, and Alf was not allowed to wear a watch or bring in anything else that tells time.  The only thing he could take into the room was a lighter and a candle in a candle holder (supplied by the radio station) that was guaranteed to burn completely in exactly one hour.  Alf was not allowed to use a ruler to measure exactly halfway down the candle.  Alf went into the room and emerged exactly 30 minutes later to win the car.  How did he do it?

Need a hint??  Think creatively, don’t get bogged down in assumptions, question them …  or if you’re really stuck… ask me!

Fancy a challenge?  Need a diversion?  Up for a bit of lateral thinking?

No 1)

“My friend Sarah told me that her Grandmother was younger than her Mother.”   Could this be true?

No 2)

A carrot, a football scarf were found in a field.  If noone placed them there, how did they get there? (a hint? its coming up to that time of year!)

No 3)

On the table is a carton containing 6 eggs.  If six people each take one egg, how can it be that one egg is left in the carton?

No 4)

Add 2 to 171 and make it less than 18.

No 5)

A train was speeding down the track towards a woman who had fallen asleep on the railway line after a particularly rowdy party.  The train had no headlights on, there was no moonlight, and no overhead lighting.  How was the driver able to stop the train before hitting her?

No 6)

A woman has to cut a roll of ribbon into one metre lengths.  If it takes her 2 seconds to measure and sut a length and the whole roll is fifty metres long, how long will it take her to do it?

No 7)

You can use 3 identical digits in a simple addition sum so that the total is 12.  You cannot use the digit 4, so what is the answer?

And one for luck

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus

a-an old lady who looks as if she is about to die

b-an old friend who once saved your life

c-the perfect partner you have been dreaming about

Knowing that there can only be one passenger in your car, whom would you choose?

Each of the above take a little creativity to solve…and each need you to think about the puzzle in a slightly different way…from a different perspective… with unclear reasoning… so if you are having problems, check any assumptions you might have made…

How did you do?  Need the answers?  Want more puzzles?  Like to see an article on how to improve your lateral thinking skills?

We all know what happens to our bodies when we are under pressure.  A certain amount can help us perform better, keeping us alert and able to avoid danger.  Too much and the physical effects include, headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. The emotional effects include depression and anxiety.

Know what happens to our brains?

Normally, our left and right hemispheres,  which see the world from different perspectives, work very well together.  Under pressure, we focus more on what it is we need to achieve making our left side more active.  Evolutionally very clever because at the point in time when we most need concentration and focus, our brain responds and allow the logical, serious, analytical side to take charge.  However, it is the creative right side of the brain, that permits us to see the bigger picture.  Without the right hemisphere, we become less able to see new and original answers or ways forward.

Result is we begin to struggle with problem solving due to an inability to think of lots of ideas and solutions.  We begin to not be able to see ‘the wood for the trees’ and our self-limiting concepts prevent innovation.

If you’re having difficulty finding an original solution, come away from the problem for a short time.  As difficult as it is to remove yourself from what is important enough to place you under pressure, take a break.  Stop thinking about it so hard, put it on the back burner…go do something else.  Allow the right hemisphere some space to check out some different perspectives and get creative.

Actually, we all know this already don’t we…..we’ve all been in the situation where it was only when we stopped trying so hard that we had a lightbulb burst into light inside our heads.  Something we see, read or hear….engages and suddenly we know what to do??

What we don’t all do already, when we are struggling to find an answer, is….relax!  Remember it was only when Archimedes went for a relaxing soak in the bath that he worked out how to measure volume…and thus solve the problem of whether the kings crown was indeed solid gold.