For example, sharing your work in a creative writing course might feel intimidating. But the critique you receive from classmates and teachers can be invaluable. Start by suspending your judgment and self-criticism. Then start writing down related ideas and possible solutions. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible in a relatively short span of time. Next, focus on clarifying and refining your ideas in order to arrive at the best possible choice. As you start to develop a new project, create a flow chart to track the project from start to finish. Look for various paths or sequences of events that might occur. A flow chart can help you visualize the final product, eliminate potential problems, and create unique solutions.
Black hat: Use a negative perspective. Which elements of the solution won’t work?Blue hat: Think broadly. What is the best overall solution?Green hat: Think creatively. What are some alternative ideas?Red hat: Look at the situation emotionally. What do your feelings tell you?White hat: Look at the situation objectively. What are the facts?Yellow hat: Use a positive perspective. Which elements of the solution will work?
Use whatever strategy or technique works best for you. Do you enjoy video games? Research indicates that playing video games can help increase your creativity. By looking at these alternatives beforehand, you’ll be better able to develop creative solutions to problems.
