A research piece promoted by rockstar educationalist, Sir Ken Robinson, attempted to quantify by just how much we actually sucked at divergent thinking. What I have gathered from various research papers is that nurturing of your divergent skills is a lifelong project. So here are a few suggestions.

  1. Write things down : Not all your ideas will be worthwhile, but they might trigger new ideas. Make a list of your thoughts.
  2. Watch for accidents : You can sometimes make the best discoveries when you’re searching for something else.
  3. Reverse the polarity : Write down as many assumptions about the problem as you can think if. Reverse them.
  4. Think in metaphors : A metaphor is a link between two dissimilar things. They open up the creative side of the brain. 
  5. Arrange blind dates : Use “combinatory play” to throw unrelated ideas together to see if they create a new idea.
  6. Steal from other domains : Explore how an idea from one industry or discipline could be adapted to another.
  7. Start from a different place : While the worst ideas can never be the best idea, it will take your imagination to a different staring place.
  8. Think in pictures : Visual thinking can strip a problem down to its essence, leading to profoundly simple connections.
  9. Ask simple questions : Challenge assumptions by posing simple questions. Questions and curiosity kickstart creativity. 

So what type of a thinker are you? Convergent or Divergent? 

27 responses to “Divergent Thinking – Root of Creativity”

  1. Nice! Reblogging to my sister site Timeless Wisdoms

    Liked by 2 people

  2. I’m divergent. It makes me very creative.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. These are really good. I may reblog

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sure :):):)
      I want this information to be sued to as many people as possible 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Shrink will say bipolar disorder, pharmacist will recommend Lithium in Morning and Viagra in Night

    Like

  5. Thanks for this. I’m becoming more of a divergent person all the time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad you liked it. Thank you for liking it

      Like

  6. Can you give me an example for the Reverse the polarity suggestion? Great article, btw!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Great blog post! This is a great way to improve your memory and develop new ways to think creatively 👍
    I want to be a divergent thinker!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Good luck Dave. Start today

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’ll give it a try, by the way your blog is awesome!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you. I am glad you liked it.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Interesting thoughts here. It’s always intriguing how the mind works and how we can manipulate it, I will for sure be taking on board some of these points 👍🏼💕

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. I am glad you liked the post.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Love Ken Robinson’s ideas on creativity and education. Thought provoking post. I’ll look into divergent thinking!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. You didn’t explain what is convergent thinking so I can’t answer your last question.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh that calls for a post on convergent thinking :):):)

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  11. So Inspiring , thankyou

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The secret to creating new ideas is to separate your divergent thinking from your convergent thinking. This means generating lots and lots of options before you evaluate them. Such brainstorming techniques are used during divergent thinking.

      Both Osborn and Parnes note the importance of removing the barriers to divergent thinking in their book (Visionizing) . They suggest that adverse criticism is taboo, free-wheeling is desirable, quantity breeds quality, and combinations and improvement are sought.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. but the points is to take an action right?eventually i’m a person with combination of actless-thinkmore and thinkmore-actless, maybe you could write about it ^^

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thoughts become a reality with action indeed. Thank you for the writing prompt.

        Like

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