Page 90 - UPthEM_Program_Final_December 2020

UPthEM – Upskilling Pathways for Employability
№ 2019-1-BG01-KA204-062299

Activity FOUR: Creative thinking for business

Creative Thinking can enhance your business activity in different areas. Before we consider
some specific areas it is important that we understand some characteristics of Creative Thinking,
which will help you to move forward.

A person using Creative Thinking does not encounter problems but sees challenges; usually we
use the word ‘problem’ as a reason for something not to be done. Instead, applying Creative
Thinking enables us to see challenges instead and transform them into opportunities.
With Creative Thinking we do not experience failures, but could have learning experiences.

Indeed Tom Peters, an American management guru says: ‘Fail, celebrate failure, learn from
failure then move on.’

Someone using Creative Thinking techniques has the possibility to transform what others may
see as a failure into a more positive enriching experience.

Success story
Here is an example of a failure turned into a success:
The invention of the Post-it notes. This was the outcome of a failed attempt to create the
strongest adhesive on the market and became 3M’s company the most successful product!

When we hear someone suggesting a new idea, we are often quick to judge it and usually do so
in a negative way. As a creative thinker you learn how to postpone judgement, give new ideas
time and then be positive and objective about your opinion. Giving space and encouraging other
people is contagious and helps innovation to grow.

The first step in applying Creative Thinking in your business is to focus. A good starting point
is which sector or issue in your business you would like to apply Creative Thinking to, being
clear and focused at the start of the process will help you to obtain maximum impact.
Creative Thinking has 3 very important parts:
• Focusing
• Applying the appropriate Creative Thinking tool
• Dedicated time available
Another important factor is perception. According to research done in the United States, 80%
of thinking errors are errors of perception. That's to say that we tend to observe and perceive
things that are often based upon our own previous experiences, and develop beliefs based on
those experiences. This means that we can miss important things when observing and trying to
understand certain situations. You think you see a particular situation, you decide according to
what you see, but in fact your perception might have been wrong from the start!

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which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein.