For the purposes of leadership, I mean creative thinking to better solve problems, and lead people. I do not mean creating art or creative thinking for the intrinsic satisfaction of creation. Here I discuss it as a means to an end.

To become more creative, leaders must be willing to make unusual connections that defy convention.^[1] They must be prepared to accept the risks of being different or wrong.^[1] Unusual connections may arise out of either effortful thought or from a relaxed, open state.^[1] Creative thinking involves examining problems from a fresh perspective to develop innovative solutions.^[1] Creative thinking occurs by consciously generating new ideas, and re-evaluating or combining old ideas, to solve a problem.^[1] Creativity is a willingness to accept change and apply a flexible outlook for new ideas and possibilities.^[1]

Looking at problems from different perspectives can improve our understanding of a situation.^[1] It can lead us to see new goals and available options.^[1] Choosing to take multiple perspectives helps to understand situations, find new or creative solutions, and evaluate solutions.^[1] Any shortcoming or restriction in our perspective is a possible source of problems in reasoning.^[1] Problem solvers can adopt different perspectives by taking on the role of another person, a neutral bystander, or the leader of an adjacent organization), using new or different frames of reference, shifting importance about various problem elements, or reversing the goal.^[1] These require an openness of mind willing to apply a different perspective and practice in shifting perspectives.^[1] Adopting different perspectives is a way to enhance creativity and critical thinking.^[1]

Identifying hidden assumptions can be useful for developing greater creativity and insight.^[1] Coming up with reasons against a preferred conclusion or option instead of in favor of that conclusion or option will improve how thorough reasoning is done.^[1] This will also help identify contingencies that may occur.^[1] We can force ourself to imagine what causes a speculative conclusion to be incorrect.^[1] Considering ways something would not be true, allows determination of other possible aspects of a situation and ways to shape the outcome to avoid those undesired states.^[1]

Finding hidden assumptions or imagining failure are similar techniques that protect against group think and hasty agreement with conventional wisdom.^[1] To check for hidden assumptions, start with an assessment or course of action, consider that it is not true or has failed.^[1] Force yourself to think about what caused it to fail.^[1] Those causes are likely to be assumptions that were not evident.^[1]