There's an expression that says, "Great minds think alike." It's usually said when two people say the same thing at about the same time. I've been known to say it myself.
However, after two decades of studying creative thinking, I've come to the conclusion that it's simply not true, and the expression is talking about the phenomenon of "thinking inside the box" (see photo).
The people who are thinking alike don't possess truly great minds, they are falling in with the masses. The very definition of conformity. The very opposite of creative thinking, and a great example of how to stifle innovation.
According to a magnet on my file cabinet, General George S. Patton said, "If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." I'd phrase it even more strongly, "If everybody is thinking alike, then only one person is thinking."
The task of the creative thinker is to look at what everybody else is looking at and to see something different or to see it differently.
One of the places we've learned to do this and where we regularly return to get recharged, learn more, and share our latest thinking is the Creative Problem Solving Institute. This gathering of leading thinkers, innovation experts, researchers, practitioners, artists, educators and full-on wackos (and I mean that in the good way) has been running annually since 1953 and brings in people from all over the world. It's a great place to learn how to create, innovate, and lead change.
While the focus of the conference has traditionally been on the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process (which our readers might know as a six step process: Identify a Goal/Wish, Gather Data, Clarify the Challenge, Generate Ideas, Select & Strengthen Solutions, and Plan for Action), there are always other approaches ranging from using Legos, to painting on water, to building innovative organizations (featuring our own Bob Eckert), to creativity in classrooms to coaching (a shout out to Janeen Whalen!).
Many of us who return every year do so because we've found a community of creative thinkers who aren't content to think alike. They believe that developing the ability to create better solutions and options, innovate in our organizations and lead change focused on improvement is necessary for making our lives, workplaces and the world a better place.
But don't just take our word for it, other CPSI regulars are blogging about this conference today at:
Whitney Ferre -- http://www.creativelyfit.com/?cat=1
Cynthia Rolfe -- http://seven-wheels.blogspot.com
Amy Lee Segami -- http://segami2.blogspot.com
Missy Carvin -- http://www.missylaneous.com
Maggie Dugan -- http://maternal-dementia.com
Gregg Fraley -- http://www.greggfraley.com/blog/?p=951
So, what would help you to create, innovate and lead change?
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