How creative are you?

Apparently, I am 54% creative. By answering 10 questions on  this quiz it worked out that:

“You are a quite creative person. You’re always involved in at least on interesting project. Keep it up and keep learning. Your creativity may bring you great things someday.”

These types of quiz’s are a bit of fun but like most of the writing about creativity it misses the point. I could be ‘99% creative’ or ‘10% creative’ – it doesn’t matter, it is irrelevant and I’d be very suprised if this quiz has been validated. Read more

treatment of crisis

Edward de Bono’s message

At the time of writing this message the conflict and problem in Gazas is still going on.  This is a situation which might benefit from some new thinking.  How would new ideas be asked for?  What effect would they have if just suggested by an individual?  Maybe every crisis should have attached to it a formal UN creative team whose business it was to generate and collect new ideas.  When I have set up my Palace of Thinking that would be one of its functions. Read more

Now is the time for a revolution in economic thought

There was a very interesting piece by Anatole Kaletsky in the Times about how much of our current academic thinking on economics might be irrelevant and the paradigm shift that is necessary.  I think this is well worth a look.  Click here to read it. 

Value

Edward de Bono’s Message

Two people looking out of different windows may sometimes see the same thing. Categories are not always distinct boxes separate from each other.  In my book ‘Six Value Medals’ I lay out six types of value.  These are distinct types.  Yet, in certain circumstances, something may be seen differently.  This may mean that something falls into two value categories or that different people see it differently. Read more

Do schools kill creativity?

If you haven’t seen Sir Ken Robinson speak, watch this video to whet your appetite.  He often speaks at the London Business Forum in London and is one of the best speakers on creativity I have seen.  Sir Ken mirrors Dr de Bono’s views on thinking in education.

Design

Edward De Bono’s Message

Belief systems are very intolerant of ambiguity.  At the Renaissance when Greek thinking came into Europe the Church has a great need for ‘truth’ and logical methods to prove this truth.  There was no interest in ‘possibilities’ and ‘ambiguities’.  This may have held up human development because the future is designed with possibilities.  Truth can only describe the past.

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The ideal environment for creative thinking

There is no doubt that environment and culture can help but they are certainly not essential to being creative.  Often there is a perceived need to dress down, take people off site, use a specific creative area etc.  These things can help but are not necessary.  The risk here is that people feel they need to be away from the office and out of the normal environment to be creative. 

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