5 Steps to Creative Thinking

Try this simple 5-step process for your next creative thinking session. You can use paper or software - just make sure to appoint a single recorder before you start, so that everyone else feels free to contribute. Recording the group's ideas and then evaluate them against agreed and weighted criteria.

Here's the process:

1. Define your purpose - you must have a focus.
2. Brainstorm ideas - anything goes, and discard nothing.
3. Define your criteria - how are you going to sort for the best ideas.
4. Evaluate ideas - using the weighted criteria from Step 3.
5. Summarize.

Perhaps No. 6 should also be added: enjoy!