Generating Creative Solutions

just spent three hours staring at the same problem and getting nowhere... until i tried something that completely changed my approach to innovation hey linkedin fam, wanted to share some thoughts on creative thinking that's been transforming how we approach r&d at our medical device company we're always told to "think outside the box" but neuroscience actually shows that creativity isn't about wild, unstructured thinking it's about creating the right conditions for your brain to make unexpected connections here's what's been working for me based on actual research (not just motivational poster advice): ✨ constraint-based innovation: we now deliberately impose weird limitations on our design sessions. example: "solve this problem without using any electronics" or "design as if it's 1985." stanford research shows that constraints paradoxically expand creativity by forcing new neural pathways. last month this led to our simplest and most elegant solution yet. ✨ the 70/20/10 thinking model: i structure my team's creative work like this - 70% of time thinking about the core problem, 20% exploring adjacent domains, and 10% in completely unrelated fields. the journal of creative behavior confirmed this ratio significantly increases breakthrough ideas vs. focused-only approaches. ✨ cognitive diversity sessions: we bring together people with completely different expertise (our engineer + marketing person + someone from logistics) to solve the same problem. mit research demonstrates that diverse thinking styles create cognitive friction that sparks novel solutions. uncomfortable but incredibly effective. ✨ physical movement triggers: whenever we hit a creative wall, we literally get up and move. harvard neurologists have mapped how walking increases blood flow to the hippocampus and triggers divergent thinking. our best product breakthrough came during an impromptu walk around the building. ✨ dedicated connection time: i now schedule 30 minutes weekly just for making random connections between our current projects and weird stuff i've read/seen. there's solid neuroscience behind this - your brain's default mode network needs dedicated time to process information and find patterns. what's fascinating is that creativity isn't magical - it's a process that can be structured and optimized. once you understand the science, you can create systems that reliably produce innovative thinking. what methods do you use to spark creativity in your team? would love to hear what's working for you. #creativethinking #innovation #neuroscience #productdevelopment #leadershiplessons

What do Albert Einstein, Paul McCartney, and Virgina Woolf have in common – besides being highly influential figures in their respective fields? All three revealed that some of their most creative ideas came to them whilst they were walking or sleeping. Ok, so what’s the brain up to this time? Why should disengaging help #creativity? In 2014, a group of researchers at Stanford measured the positive effects of mild physical activity on creativity – and found that walking boosted creativity by between 50-80%. 👉 When students took a brisk walk around the college campus or walked at a relaxed pace on an indoor treadmill facing a blank wall – their performance on a test of creativity called the “Alternate Uses Task” improved by a whopping 81%! The AUT tests “divergent thinking,” which is the ability to explore many possible solutions, including blue sky or out of the box thinking. 👉 Walking outdoors produced the most novel and highest quality analogies, indicating that walking had a very specific benefit in improving creativity. 👉 Furthermore, walking made people more talkative, resulting in roughly 50% more total ideas being produced compared to when sitting. In other words, just going for a short walk led to a massive increase in creativity. Or, in the words of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, "All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.” Sleeping on it seems to have a similar creativity-enhancing effect as physical exercise. How many times have you come back to tackle a seemingly insurmountable problem after a sleep – or even a nap – and the pieces seemed to fall right into place? Studies have found that during the phase of sleep known as Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, the #brain is able to make new and novel connections between unrelated ideas, which is a key aspect of creativity. This state of sleep allows for the free association of ideas, which can lead to creative problem-solving and the generation of innovative ideas upon waking. REM sleep is thought to contribute to "incubating" creative ideas, as the brain reorganizes and consolidates memories, potentially leading to creative insights. Both physical exercise and sleep are mood-enhancers, which may contribute to enhancing creativity. Research suggests that positive moods can enhance creative thinking, making it easier for individuals to think flexibly and come up with innovative solutions. Positive emotional states often increase cognitive flexibility, broaden attention, and allow for more associations between ideas, which are key elements of creativity. Turns out, there are practical ways to spark more ‘Aha!’ moments in our lives. The next time you’re struggling to think of a solution to a problem, try taking a walk or sleeping on it – the evidence-backed cheat-codes for unlocking creativity!

How many times have you heard someone say, ‘We’ve always done it this way,’ or ‘No, we can’t do that because…’? As sellers, it can be frustrating! 😖And while, these statements might feel logical, they could be the fastest way to lose a deal—or miss out on the creative idea that could help you win one. As sales professionals, we’re not just selling products; we’re solving problems, driving initiatives, and designing solutions tailored to our customers’ objectives. But here’s the challenge: our competitors are often selling the same things. So, how do we stand out? The answer lies in how we approach selling—not just what we sell. And that’s where I’ve been inspired by a concept from Duncan Wardle’s book The Imagination Emporium: the power of “Yes, And….” When we default to “No, because…,” we shut down ideas before they’ve had a chance to grow. We stay stuck in the same “river of thinking,” unable to innovate or offer anything truly unique. This mindset can feel safe—it’s rooted in what’s worked before—but it also keeps us from creating the differentiated solutions our customers are looking for. The magic happens when we shift to “Yes, And….” ✔️ It sparks creativity. Most of our conscious brain is consumed with day-to-day tasks—emails, meetings, and presentations. But innovation happens in the subconscious, where unexpected connections and ideas emerge. “Yes, And…” helps unlock that creativity. ✔️ It builds momentum. When we agree to build on ideas instead of dismissing them, we create bigger, bolder, and more innovative solutions. ✔️ It fosters collaboration. Sales success doesn’t happen in silos. Bringing together diverse perspectives helps ideas grow into solutions that truly stand out. ✔️ It differentiates us. Customers don’t just want products; they want partners who think differently and design unique solutions to their challenges. “Yes, And…” empowers us to deliver on that promise. Here’s how you can put this into practice: ✔️ In your next sales meeting with your account team, commit to saying “Yes, And…” to build on others’ ideas. ✔️ Hold off judgment—let ideas grow before evaluating them. ✔️ Celebrate small wins and steps toward creativity. What are your thoughts on “Yes, And…” in sales? How do you encourage innovation on your team? #sales; #deals; #innovation

Most don’t realize this: but creativity requires incredible mental dexterity. Creative thinking happens through loops of alternating between generative brainstorming (diverge) and problem-solving (converge). A framework I find useful: first, focus on exploration, then hone in on a direction, then explore again before narrowing down. Where did diverge-converge-diverge as a brainstorming method come from? An American psychologist, tasked with the psychological evaluation of airforce pilots during WWII, built a taxonomy on the six key operations in human intelligence — cognition, memory recording, memory retention, divergent production, convergent production, and evaluation. In turn, this inspired ad man Alex Osborn. The cofounder of legendary ad agency BBDO described the creative thinking process as a series of alternate loops of diverging-converging-diverging, in his seminal book, “Applied Imagination” (1953). This method, argued Osborn, allows one to think beyond the “obvious” and “top of mind” ideas during the generative brainstorm, and then switch to a mode of down-selection and focus. Going straight into convergence —without first, casting the net wide with divergence— is limiting. Here are some great tips on how you can use it in your day-today: When in divergence mode: • Defer judgment • Combine and build • Seek wild ideas • Go for quantity When in convergence mode: • Be deliberate • Check the objectives • Be affirmative • Consider novelty Have you done your creative reps today?

Ever seen a lava lamp and thought, "Cool decor!"? At Cloudflare’s San Francisco office, the iconic lava lamp wall isn’t just for show - it’s a key player in internet security. Yes, you read that right. 🌐✨ Here’s the story: Computers struggle to generate truly random numbers, which are essential for encrypting data. That’s where the lava lamps come in. Their unpredictable, mesmerizing movements create randomness that helps secure a significant portion of global internet traffic. A camera captures the swirling blobs, and the data is fed into algorithms to generate cryptographic keys. This creative solution - called the Wall of Entropy - is a reminder that innovation often comes from unexpected places. Who would’ve thought a retro relic from the 1960s could safeguard modern technology? Standing in front of this wall recently, I couldn’t help but reflect: What other “outdated” ideas or tools could we reimagine for today’s challenges? Sometimes, the answers to our most complex problems lie in simplicity - or even nostalgia. So, next time you see a lava lamp, remember: it’s not just decoration; it’s a tool for security. 🔒💡 👉 What’s one unconventional idea or tool you’ve used to solve a problem in your field? Let’s share some creative inspiration! #Innovation #Cybersecurity #CreativeThinking #TechSolutions

Sometimes you can’t move the external lever. But you can always move the internal one. That was one of the biggest lessons from my 20 years in banking. So many people underestimate the power of creativity in corporate life. Not the paint-brush kind, the problem-solving kind. The “find another door when someone closes the first one” kind. If you stare at a frustrating situation long enough, it drains you. If you bring imagination to it, you create options. Take this example: Let’s say the Compliance department in your company is treated like an afterthought compared to Audit or another department. You can stay resentful. You can keep waiting for someone else to fix the hierarchy. Or… You can build a relationship with Audit, align incentives, and let them carry some of your objectives forward. Same outcome. Less resistance. More influence. That’s what creative leadership actually looks like, becoming the chess player, not the chess piece. And here’s the science behind why this approach works: 1. Creativity increases cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility = the ability to shift strategies and adapt. A study from the University of Toronto found that people who engage in creative thinking activate the brain’s “default mode network,” which increases their ability to generate non-obvious solutions. Translation: creativity makes you better at navigating blockers. 2. Creativity strengthens social connection and trust. Research from Stanford shows that collaborative creativity increases oxytocin, the bonding hormone. When you partner with another department creatively, you’re literally “syncing” the team neurologically. That’s why relationship-based creativity works better than force. 3. Creativity reduces threat response and improves decision-making. Harvard neuroscientists found that creative problem-solving reduces amygdala activation (the fear center) and increases prefrontal cortex activity (logic, planning, emotional regulation). This is why creative leaders stay calm under pressure, they’re using the part of the brain that sees opportunity instead of danger. This is the stuff no job description teaches you. Where have you had to get creative in your career? Win the day

I generated 25+ campaign ideas for my client without using AI. Here’s my 6-step creative ideation process: ➡️ Step 1: Understand the End Goal Before anything else, you should understand the overarching marketing and business objectives. Ask yourself the following: Who do I want to reach? Why? What impact do I want to have? What would success look like? ➡️Step 2: Discovery & Research To think strategically down the line, use this step to gather info: 📊 Internal content audit → Examine what’s been done so far and look in depth at what has and hasn’t worked (and why) 🔍 Competitor analysis → Dive into your competitors campaigns, their effectiveness, and how people are reacting to them ➡️ Step 3: Empathise Get to the root of your target audience’s needs so that you can address their pain points. This means you can show how your product/ service solves a problem they’re facing. (Ex - A personal branding agency recognising that their ideal client struggles with lead gen. They use social proof to demonstrate how they’ve successfully created content that positions their current clients as industry leaders). ➡️ Step 4: Inspire Creativity Through Brainstorming Creative thinking is all about experimentation, imagination and curiosity. Let your mind run free here and allow yourself to spontaneously brainstorm. Quantity > quality is best at this stage. Some examples of brainstorming techniques: 💭 Create a mindmap, drawing branches from each idea 💭 Reframe and reword your target audience’s problem, looking at it from different angles 💭 Think outside the box i.e. ask ‘how would a child solve this problem?’ 💭 Test the waters of constraints and aim to brainstorm 10 rough ideas in 10 mins ➡️ Step 5: Relax & Unwind Giving yourself breathing space after so much thinking. It can stimulate subconscious ideas. ⛅️ Walking 💭 Meditating 🚿 Taking a shower 🎶 Listening to music It’s often in these moments that we connect unexpected dots and ‘lightbulb moments’ are triggered. ➡️Step 6: Unlock Your Creativity It’s solution time! Having completed steps 1-5, you’re now ready to generate innovative ideas to test. Evaluate and select the ideas you think will have the greatest impact. At this step, you want to whittle the best ideas down so it’s quality > quantity Quick idea generation checklist ✔️ 1. Understand what you want to achieve and why 2. Research internal content & your competition 3. Put yourself in the shoes of your ideal target audience 4. Get inspired through brainstorming techniques 5. Schedule downtime and give your mind a rest 6. Generate, evaluate and select ideas P.s. don’t just take my word for it that all of this planning & prep is worth it. Take Einstein’s advice: “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.” What helps your creativity when it comes to ideation? 💡

Unlock Creative Solutions with Rory Sutherland’s Counterintuitive Wisdom Feeling stuck on a problem? Sometimes the answer lies beyond logic. Rory Sutherland’s “Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life” challenges us to embrace unconventional thinking. Here are key takeaways to spark inspiration when logic fails: 1️⃣ The Opposite Works Too: Solutions can emerge from exploring the opposite of what feels right—like raising prices to boost perceived value. 2️⃣ Forget “Average”: Designing for outliers, not the median, can drive innovation and breakthroughs. 3️⃣ Defy Logic: If everyone is logical, no one stands out. Dare to zig when others zag. 4️⃣ Reframe the Problem: Perception shapes reality. Sometimes, changing the presentation solves the issue. 5️⃣ Embrace Creativity: Overthinking kills magic. Trust intuition, experiment, and even embrace lucky accidents. 6️⃣ Small Changes Matter: Don’t overlook tiny details—they often yield the biggest impact. 💡 If logic hasn’t worked, maybe it’s time to unleash a little “Alchemy.” Tap into psychology, intuition, and creativity. Solutions are often closer than you think—they just require a fresh perspective. #Inspiration #ProblemSolving #Innovation #Creativity #AlchemyThinking #OutoftheBox #GrowthMindset #RorySutherland #PsychologyInBusiness #ThinkDifferent #DrGPT

Printing a fake TV on their boxes cut a bike company's shipping damage by 80%. It's the same thinking behind a $2-million campaign I wrote about a few weeks ago. Dutch bike company VanMoof had a problem. One out of every four bikes they shipped was arriving damaged. They tried better packaging, different carriers, complaints to vendors. Nothing worked. Then someone had a weird idea: print an image of a flatscreen TV on the outside of the box. Shipping handlers started treating the packages like fragile electronics. Damage dropped from 25% to almost nothing. It reminded me of the dimensional mail campaign I shared recently in a post that generated more than 400 comments. We had 274 senior buyers ghosting us for six months. Instead of sending more emails, we mailed them actual phones with a note: "You'll want to take this call." 94 took the call. 77 booked an in-person meeting. $2 million in pipeline. Same principle. Stop pushing harder on the solution that isn't working. Find the creative angle that changes how people see the problem entirely. My friend Nir Bashan just released his new book today called "The Solution Mindset" that breaks down exactly this kind of thinking. He outlines 10 "superpowers" for creative problem-solving with case studies from companies tackling everything from ocean plastic to healthcare bureaucracy. If you've ever been stuck on a problem that won't move no matter how hard you push, worth picking up. Congrats on the book launch, Nir!

The ability to shift strategies or approaches when one solution is not viable is a sign of cognitive flexibility, a key to achieving creative velocity. Insight problems aid in developing cognitive flexibility while promoting lateral thinking by encouraging you to find an unconventional, non-obvious solution to a problem. Reframing a problem can lead to an innovative solution without directly tackling an issue that seems impossible to solve for. Here's an insight problem to practice with: Imagine you are a building manager in a tall office building, and people constantly complain about how slow the elevator is. The complaints have increased, and you’re under pressure to fix the problem. However, after checking the system, you find that your current budget or technology cannot improve the elevator speed. Your task is to reduce the complaints about the elevator’s slowness without investing in expensive upgrades. How would you solve this problem? Framing the problem can open your mind to new possibilities. For example here, the key is to think beyond the direct problem of elevator speed and consider alternative solutions that address the complaints creatively. By focusing on the number of complaints and not the speed of the elevator you open your mind to new ways to address the problem. For example, you could reinvent the elevator ride to make it less tedious. Installing dry-erase whiteboards on the elevator walls might encourage riders to doodle or otherwise engage their imaginations, making the time seem to pass faster. Or you might play music that encourages mindfulness and calm. Adding nature sounds (such as birdsong, flowing water, or rustling leaves) to gentle instrumental music can reduce rider stress and evoke a sense of calm and presence. Insight problems like this stimulate our imagination and help us generate novel ideas. You can ask your GenAI partner to develop them for you to practice with a simple prompt like this: "Create an insight problem for me to solve." If you get stuck, you can learn from the solutions your partner offers and then try again. Practice, practice, practice. #creativity #creativethinking #creativevelocity #creative #productmanagement #innovation