Discover 5 types of creative thinking and how to apply them

Creative thinking is a skill that is often admired and sometimes misunderstood. Many believe that creativity is an innate gift reserved for only a few. But that's not true! Anyone can learn and apply creative thinking to generate new ideas and solve problems in innovative ways. In this article, you will learn exactly what creative thinking means, what five types there are and how you can use them in your everyday life.

What does creative thinking mean?

Creative thinking is the ability to derive new thoughts, ideas, and insights from information that already exists. It's about looking at this information from different perspectives and creating new connections. According to experts, there are two main types of mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe that talents and skills are immutable, while people with a growth mindset believe they can improve and develop. To encourage creative thinking, it's important to have a growth mindset and believe that you can learn and grow.

The Five Types of Creative Thinking

1. Aesthetic Thinking

Aesthetic thinking refers to the principles that guide an artist's work. It's about appreciating the beauty in nature and design and integrating these elements into the thought process. Artists, musicians, and actors often use aesthetic thinking to come up with new ideas. This way of thinking is highly visual, taking into account shape, color, pattern, and composition. To apply aesthetic thinking, you should try to connect with your emotions and feelings, not just think intellectually. Learn more about design, art, and visual concepts to foster this mindset.

2. Divergent thinking

Divergent thinking involves developing multiple solutions to the same problem. It's not just about finding a variety of solutions, it's also about generating high-quality ideas and then boiling them down to the best idea. Divergent thinkers need to be flexible and explore different approaches. This type of thinking focuses on pre-existing ideas or solutions and tries to improve on them. To encourage divergent thinking, you can hold brainstorming sessions. Think about how you want people to feel and think when they hear about your product or idea, and translate those feelings and thoughts into visual cues.

3. Inspiring thinking

Inspirational thinking uses inspirational thoughts, people, ideas, or stories to encourage others to think differently and discover new meaningful ideas. This way of thinking evokes emotions and many of the greatest ideas were born in a moment of enthusiasm. Steve Jobs was known for giving inspirational speeches to spark a sense of wonder and passion in his employees that made them think outside the box. Inspiring thinking is only possible when you feel like you have permission to explore. Encourage yourself and others to take risks and be bold with ideas.

4. Lateral thinking

Lateral thinking was coined by Edward de Bono in the 1960s to separate creative ideation from artistic creativity. This way of thinking leaves all old ideas behind and focuses on developing completely new ones. Lateral thinking avoids obvious clichés and encourages thinking outside the box. It has no sequential process and no connection to previous thoughts or ideas. To use lateral thinking, you should be aware of how your brain processes information and allow external stimuli to guide the process. Go for a walk or meet up with old colleagues – you never know where it might lead.

5. Convergent thinking

Convergent thinking is the opposite of divergent thinking because it focuses on a well-thought-out solution to a problem. It's a logical mindset that requires less creativity and is often fast and organized. Convergent thinking is useful for finding the best known solution, but it is not the most appropriate method for innovation. To apply convergent thinking, compare information with the unknown and follow a logical train of thought to find the best solution. Run multiple tests and make sure everyone is on the same page.

Result

It's easy to get stuck in habitual thought patterns, especially in the workplace, where things are often done the same way for long periods of time. But this can be detrimental to businesses, as it is often necessary to adapt and change in a rapidly changing world. Creative thinking is highly beneficial for both employers and employees, as it encourages ideation and encourages exploring new perspectives that can shape a brighter future. By understanding and applying the different types of creative thinking, you can greatly improve your problem-solving and innovation skills.