CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING Optimist International 1 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING Introductions Purpose Learning Objectives Optimist International 2 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PURPOSE: To develop the awareness and the skills necessary to solve problems creatively. Optimist International 3 LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Define creative problem solving. 2. Be familiar with common mental blocks to creative thinking process. 3. Explore ways to be more creative. 4. Know the steps to the creative problem solving process. 5. Be familiar with: Brainstorming, Mind mapping and Multivoting 6. Apply tools to solve a problem. Optimist International 4 Workshop Outline A. What is creative problem solving? B. Why don’t we think creatively more often? C. How can we be more creative? D. What is the creative problem solving process? E. What are some other specific creative problem solving tools and techniques? F. Application of learning. Optimist International 5 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING What is creative problem solving? Optimist International 6 Some Additional Thoughts The creative person uses information to form new ideas. The real key to creative problem solving is what you do with the knowledge. Creative problem solving requires an attitude that allows you to search for new ideas and use your knowledge and experience. Change perspective and use knowledge to make the ordinary extraordinary and the usual commonplace. Optimist International 7 DEFINITION Creative problem solving is - Optimist International 8 DEFINITION “Creative problem solving is - looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.” Adapted from a famous quote from a former Nobel prize winner, Albert Szent-Gyorgi. Optimist International 9 EXERCISE Optimist International 10 A SOLUTION Optimist International 11 LET’S TALK ABOUT: Why don’t we think creatively more often? What are the barriers that get in our way? Optimist International 12 BARRIERS THAT GET IN OUR WAY Time Why change? Usually don’t need to be creative Habit Routine Haven’t been taught to be creative What are some other barriers that get in our way? Optimist International 13 MENTAL BLOCKS Mental blocks are reasons (attitudes) why we don’t “think something different.” Optimist International 14 MENTAL BLOCKS 1. The _______ answer. 2. That’s not _________. 3. __________ the rules. 4. Be ______________. 5. ________ is frivolous. 6. That’s not my _____. 7. ________ ambiguity. 8. Don’t be _________. 9. __________is wrong. 10. I’m not __________. Optimist International 15 MENTAL BLOCK # 1 1. The right answer. Only one? Optimist International 16 MENTAL BLOCK # 2 1. The right answer. 2. That’s not logical. Optimist International 17 MENTAL BLOCK # 3 1. The right answer. 2. That’s not logical. 3. Follow the rules. Why rules should be challenged: 1. We make rules based on reasons that make a lot of sense. 2. We follow these rules. 3. Time passes, and things change. 4. The original reasons for the generation of these rules may no longer exist, but because the rules are still in place, we continue to follow them. Optimist International 18 MENTAL BLOCK # 4 1. The right answer. 2. That’s not logical. 3. Follow the rules. 4. Be practical. Optimist International 19 MENTAL BLOCK # 5 1. 2. 3. 4. The right answer. That’s not logical. Follow the rules. Be practical. 5. Play is frivolous. Optimist International “When do you get your best ideas?” 20 MENTAL BLOCK # 6 6. That’s not my area. Optimist International 21 MENTAL BLOCK # 7 6. That’s not my area. 7. Avoid ambiguity. AMBIGUITY Optimist International 22 MENTAL BLOCK # 8 6. That’s not my area. 7. Avoid ambiguity. 8. Don’t be foolish. Optimist International 23 MENTAL BLOCK # 9 6. That’s not my area. 7. Avoid ambiguity. 8. Don’t be foolish. 9. To err is wrong. Optimist International 24 MENTAL BLOCK # 10 6. 7. 8. 9. That’s not my area. Avoid ambiguity. Don’t be foolish. To err is wrong. 10.I’m not creative. Optimist International 25 BEING MORE CREATIVE How can we be more creative? Jot down at least 3 ideas that come to your mind. Optimist International 26 Golden Rules of Creative Thinking 1. Start small trying to discover new ways to be creative, ___________. 2. __________ to abandon the old, obsolete ways of doing things and explore new ways. 3. It is not possible to change the way we think about everything. ________ in which to try creative thinking techniques. 4. Understand that creative thinking requires __________, but it is worth it! 5. Remember that creative thinking is both _______ and__________!!! Optimist International 27 Golden Rules of Creative Thinking (Continued) 6. _________ on what you can reasonably do. Trying to do too many things at once compromises the effort and may take away from the results. 7. _________creative thinking for today as well as tomorrow. 8. Include other people in the creative thinking process with you. __________fosters creative thinking. 9. Include _______ and ______ in your creative thinking process as well as ___________. 10. Keep ________________. Optimist International 28 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 1. State what appears to be the problem. The real problem may not surface until facts have been gathered and analyzed. Therefore, start with what you assume to be the problem, that can later be confirmed or corrected. Optimist International 29 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 2. Gather facts, feelings and opinions. What happened? Where, when and how did it occur? What is it’s size, scope, and severity? Who and what is affected? Likely to happen again? Need to be corrected? May need to assign priorities to critical elements. Optimist International 30 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 3. Restate the problem. The real facts help make this possible, and provide supporting data. The actual problem may, or may not be the same as stated in Step 1. Optimist International 31 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 4. Identify alternative solutions. Generate ideas. Do not eliminate any possible solutions until several have been discussed. Optimist International 32 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 5. Evaluate alternatives. Which will provide the optimum solution? What are the risks? Are costs in keeping with the benefits? Will the solution create new problems? Optimist International 33 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 6. Implement the decision! Who must be involved? To what extent? How, when and where? Who will the decision impact? What might go wrong? How will the results be reported and verified? Optimist International 34 CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS STEP 7. Evaluate the results. Test the solution against the desired results. Make revisions if necessary. Optimist International 35 10 Questions To Encourage Ideas 1. What if…? 2. How can we improve…? 3. How will the Optimist Member and/or the community benefit? 4. Are we forgetting anything? 5. What’s the next step? Optimist International 36 10 Questions To Encourage Ideas 6. What can we do better…? 7. What do you think about…? 8. What should we add? 9. What should we eliminate? 10.What other ideas do you have...? Optimist International 37 TOOLS & TECHNIQUES BRAINSTORMING Purpose: To generate a large number of ideas in a short period of time. Optimist International 38 BRAINSTORMING Rules for Brainstorming: The more ideas the better! No discussion No idea is a bad idea Build on one another’s ideas Display all ideas Optimist International 39 BRAINSTORMING EXERCISE How Do We Motivate Our Local Optimist Club Members? Ideas: Freely record your ideas as they come to your mind. Optimist International 40 BRAINSTORMING GUIDELINES 1. Practice question: How Do We Motivate Our Local Optimist Club Members? Remember Creative Thinking Re-state the question to keep the process going What did you mean by that?!!! 2. Clarify understanding. Once all the ideas have been generated (it may take approximately 5 to 6 minutes), review ideas offered. Optimist International 41 BRAINSTORMING GUIDELINES Let’s combine ideas!!! 3. Combine items that are similar and/or eliminate duplicates. Are we done yet? 4. Completion. Optimist International 42 TOOLS & TECHNIQUES MULTIVOTING Purpose: To help a group of people make a decision with which they are comfortable. Definition: A way to vote to select the most important or popular items (alternatives) from a list. Optimist International 43 MULTIVOTING Steps 1. Generate a list of items and number each item. 2. If two or more items seem similar, they may be combined. 3. If necessary, renumber the items. Optimist International 44 MULTIVOTING Steps (Continued) 4. Write down the numbers of the items you feel are the major cause of the problem. 5. Share your votes by a show of hands. 6. Eliminate those items with the fewest votes. 7. Repeat steps 3 (renumber) through 6 on the list of remaining items. Continue this process until only a few items remain. If a clear favorite does not emerge, the group may discuss the items listed and make a choice. Optimist International 45 MIND MAPPING Definition : A visual picture of a group of ideas, concepts or issues. Purpose : Unblock our thinking. See an entire idea or several ideas on one sheet of paper. See how ideas relate to one another. Look at things in a new and different way. Look at an idea in depth. Optimist International 46 Mind Mapping Exercise Think freely!! Over-sized blank sheet of paper. 1. Initial Tumble of Select word, phrase or problem statement to serve as a focus for discussion. Ideas. Print it in the middle of the paper. Enclose it in a box or oval. Let a word pop out of your mind. Print it anywhere on the paper. Underline it and connect the line with the problem statement (or key phrase or word) you are working. Record the next idea and connect it to original focus point or the prior thought. Continue printing and connecting words. Optimist International 47 Mind Mapping Exercise EXAMPLE Optimist International 48 Mind Mapping Exercise -- Helpful Hints A Keep your printing large and easy to read. Feel free to use symbols and or pictures. Have some fun using different colors. Optimist International 49 COMPLETED MAP Have Fun Drawing Your Own Mind Map! Draw over clusters of similar thoughts that are associated with the main focus point. Have fun using a different color highlighter with each cluster of words. How do the variety of ideas relate to one another? Do you notice any common causes of the problem? What are the most important causes? You are now ready to brainstorm solutions! Optimist International 50 APPLICATION OF LEARNING What Are The Three Greatest Problems / Opportunities Your Club is Currently Facing? i.e. “How do you motivate your club members?” 1. 2. 3. Optimist International 51