When we have to create something new, we need to be creative, we need to innovate. Our thought processes can work in one or two ways, either they can be divergent, generating new ideas out of the ones we already have or convergent, refining the ideas we have into a conclusion.
Divergent Thinking
This is the production of new ideas, building on existing ideas or going in new directions. It should quickly develop a list, many of which will be useless but amongst them should be some gems.
Also known as: brain-storming, imagining, bouncing ideas around.
Convergent Thinking
Convergent thinking involves taking the large number of ideas and sieving out the useless ones, noting those that have potential and reducing the list to a manageable number.
Also know as: refining, sieving, concluding, assessing, deciding.
The Peapod
Almost all creative and innovative thought involves a series of phases, some divergent, some convergent. As you can see from the diagram below, this leads to a ‘peapod’ shape. One idea breeds many (divergent) which are refined to a few (convergent) which breed many more, which in turn are refined onwards and onwards.
Leading Creative Thinking
When leading a creative thinking exercise, the most important thing is ensure that you bring it to an end! The convergent/divergent cycle will continue forever if you let it, decide how much time you have or what you criteria for success are before you start and stop once you have reached them.
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convergent divergent thinking, creativity, innovation, peapod, thinking
