Examples of Creative Thinking in the Workplace

by Chris Joseph

Creative thinking is essential for any organization to prevent stagnation and to keep the business moving forward. The process of creative thinking is not always easy, and some stimulation may be necessary. You can use a few techniques to aid the process, and it can be beneficial to get as many of your workers as possible involved to provide exposure to a wide variety of ideas.


Brainstorming allows a group of people to contribute ideas on a topic without regard to how practical they may be. The purpose is to come with an "outside the box" solution that might not occur otherwise. While many of the ideas generated may not be feasible, it is possible that by removing practical constraints, an idea will surface that you can mold into a workable solution. Another advantage is that you'll receive input from several people instead of just one or two individuals.

Asking "What-If" Questions

The process of asking "what if" questions can lead to new discoveries that result in improvements or growth. For example, you can consider what would happen if you started to perform a process in the opposite manner of how you currently do it or if you added weekend hours of operation. You can also explore the possibilities of opening a second location or even buying out your top competitor. "What if" questions are often the source of big ideas.


Role-playing can give you a different perspective that can lead to helpful ideas. For example, if you are a salesperson, a role-playing session where you pretend to be the customer can give you a much better understanding of what your customer is thinking during your presentations. This can help you anticipate common objections your customers may have and develop a plan to overcome them. You'll be much better prepared for making your sales calls.

Provocation Techniques

Provocation is a process where you intentionally reject a truism to help stimulate creative thought. For instance, you may pose the premise that getting rid of all of your business's computers will improve productivity. While you have no intention of getting rid of your computer system, the concept may help stimulate thinking to where you and your colleagues may come up with ideas to improve productivity and re-examine your current processes.

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