Creative Thinking versus Critical Thinking
By Kal Bishop
The
process of creative thinking is often, mistakenly, intertwined with
critical thinking. There is a tendency to write and edit simultaneously,
couple hypothesis generation and evaluation, combine problem identification
with solution.
To increase effectiveness, one should first apply
creative thought, which is meant to be daring, uninhibited, free-spirited,
imaginative, unpredictable, and revolutionary. The trick is to ignore
content and maximise the size and richness of the idea pool.
Second, critical thinking is exercised to achieve
applied creativity. This is reductive, logical, focused, conservative,
practical and feasible. During this stage, the idea pool is reduced
to achievable, appropriate ideas.
Now onto the Idea Pool itself:
Maximising the size and richness of the idea pool
is a conscious process that has a lot in common with a) lateral thinking
and b) the elicitation of tacit knowledge. It is the pre-critical
thinking phase and some elements include:
a) Coming up with ideas for the sake of generating
ideas.
b) Using a variety of stimuli and frameworks to open
up as many pathways as possible.
c) Not having a conscious direction.
d) Not stopping when a goal seems fulfilled.
e) Consciously stimulating change in direction.
In short, the key principle is to produce first and
scrutinize second - writing and rewriting are two separate processes.
This applies across the board, from business problem solving to arts
such as screenwriting. The more people try to understand meaning,
the less they produce.
Kal Bishop, MBA, http://www.managing-creativity.com
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in
London, UK and founder of http://www.managing-creativity.com.
He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for
clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led improv
workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London
and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller.
Kal regularly conducts workshops and presentations in London and can
be reached via kalB@managing-creativity.com.
