Divergent Minds Open the Gateway #cindertoflame

Let’s set the stage: a serious corporate meeting, filled with time-limited agenda items. And then, an attendee shares a perspective that is quickly judged to be tangential, off-topic to the agenda item under discussion. What transpired? Perhaps the chair politely brought the meeting back “on topic”. More importantly, what creative idea or perspective resulted in a missed opportunity?

Divergent thinking has been associated with personality traits such as nonconformity and persistence. This can be annoying to colleagues or corporate leaders who simply want to maintain the status quo, get the job done and keep moving forward.

Creative problem solving requires divergent thinking. It employs curiosity, originality, and hinges upon freedom of expression and openness to change. When observing discourse of divergent thinkers, the quantity and scope of ideas may appear to be disconnected to the topic at hand. However, upon closer scrutiny, remote and unusual associations can be made, eventually forming a pattern that can lead to major innovation.

Studies have revealed lesser known, positive aspects of divergent thinking. It may be surprising that divergent thinking is rooted in logic and requires complex analytical cognitive processes, involving both right and left hemispheres of the brain. When thinking is unbiased and blinders are removed, divergent thinking yields multiple possibilities.

Barbara S. Marini’s dissertation (2017) reviewed studies of creative leadership traits that nurture divergent thinking. Examples include providing space, time, flexibility and most imperatively, patience to explore varied results.

The principles of equity, diversity and inclusion can be applied to thinking styles. The corporate challenge is to strike a balance in thinking styles and invite divergent thinking at all corporate levels. This begins with creating an idea tolerant work environment that defers judgment, permits provocative questions, and explores unusual perspectives. This requires allocating time for open discussion and structured brainstorming.

Everyone has a role in creating a healthy corporate culture for major innovation. Divergent thinkers require a psychologically safe work environment, without being viewed as instigators of overwhelm. Convergent thinkers are called to task once all ideas and perspectives are on the table. Moreover, research has confirmed that preferred thinking styles are innate but can also be learned. Everyone can expand their divergent thinking skills through specialized coaching, available at Cinder to Flame. Here’s a thought-provoking quote from John Maeda:

“Our economy is built upon convergent thinkers, people that execute things, get them done. But artists and designers are divergent thinkers: they expand the horizon of possibilities.”

Cinder to Flame helps Corporations solve complex challenges with strategic services that energize people, fuel a healthy corporate culture and ignite major innovation.

Divergent minds are the key to opening the gateway to sustainable, quality living.

Read how this fits with Cinder to Flame’s vision: https://www.cindertoflame.ca/vision

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