Creative Brainstorming Techniques using Mind MapsCreativity and Innovation

Introduction

Professor Tony Buzan, the recipient of the American Creativity Association's lifetime achievement award, explains the world is facing a Global Creativity Crisis and believes that we have been “educated” out of creativity. Our thinking has been linearly structured during our learning years, and we have been told to limit the use of our right-brain cortical skills.

This programme helps to unleash your “natural” creative self by understanding how the brain desires to problem-solve using its inherent skills. By learning how to Mind Map through the IDEAS Model, you will generate five times more ideas and increase the chance of finding quality solutions in a shorter time.

Key Takeaways

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to;

• Understand your brain’s natural creative states to harness your creativity when required
• Learn how to draw a well-balanced Mind Map according to Prof Tony Buzan's Laws of Mind Mapping
• Engage in a highly productive brainstorming session using a Group Generative Thinking process known as the IDEAS model
• Learn how to implement a Creative Problem Solving process
• Identify the root cause of a problem and find multiple solutions to overcome the issue using the Mind Map technique.

Who Should Attend

Professionals, Managers, Supervisors, Project Leaders and those involved in creative processes or environments.

Programme Outline

Day 1: Creativity Begins with Me

• Enter the Disruptive Innovation (DI) Economy
  • A Disrupted World - driven by Innovation
  • Impacts of the DI Economy
  • Facing the Global Creativity Crisis
• Define and Measure Creativity
  • Assessing Your Creativity Quotient
  • Ellis Paul Torrance’s 4 Creativity Benchmarks
  • Achieving the Alpha Brain State for Creativity
  • Secrets of Creative Geniuses
• Discover Your Brain's Creative Capabilities
  • How we Learn using our Multi-Sensory System
  • The Left and Right Brain Paradigm
  • Activate your Creativity
• Radiant Thinking with Mind Maps®
  •  Think Out-of-the-Box through Associative Thinking
  • Principles behind Mind Mapping®
  • Tony Buzan’s Laws of Mind Maps®
  • Mind Map® Applications in the Business World
• Group Brain Storming using IDEAS Model
  •  We Think Individually and Differently
  • Deposit and Collate Ideas as a Group
  • Elaborate and Develop Good Ideas
  • Apply Key Ideas onto a Solution
  • Showcase your Recommendations

Module 2: Applying Creativity to Solving Problems

• Creative Problem Solving Process
  • Types of Problem Solving Model
  • Process of Creative Problem Solving
  • Focus on Incubating and Insights
• Identifying and Finding Problems
  •  5 Steps to Define the Problem
  • Identify Key Problem Issues using Mind Maps
  • Case Practise: Finding Possible Problem Causes
• Solution Finding
  • Select and Focus on Major Concerns
  • Solution Finding Tools
  • Case Practise: Finding Multiple Solutions
• Creative Solution Finding
  • Individual Brain Bloom
  • Presenting Individual Ideas within the Team
  • Team Mind Mapping® Activity
  • Presenting the Group Mind Map to the Organisation

Methodologies

A practical approach consists of 70% on course application with hands-on techniques and 30% on conceptual and reflective learning. The training comprises a combination of:

• Pre and post-workshop questionnaire
• Self-reflection on learning points (using a journal)
• Visually stimulating sessions with video and image-rich presentation slides
• Group activities and break up discussions
• Real-life application activities
• Practical worksheets
• Useful checklists and systematic guidelines
• Follow through blended learning with e-learning modules (to be developed)

Programme Trainer

Eric Cheong speaks at conferences and in-house seminars such as the 14th International Conference on Thinking and the International Conference on Habits of Mind. Eric hopes to promote global mental literacy in Asia, helping people to become better thinkers by activating their inherent brain skills to achieve success. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree with honours from the National University of Singapore.

Over the years, Eric has trained more than 5,000 executives, teachers and students across Asia. Some of his major clients include Oracle, Intel, Motorola, HSBC, ARUP, HK Securities, HK Exchange & Clearing Limited, Tuv Sud, Hewlett Packard, Singapore Airlines Ltd, Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Ltd and Singapore Power Ltd. He has also trained Singapore government agencies such as Ministry of Education, National Heritage Board, Housing Development Board, Health Promotion Board, Supreme Court, Health Sciences Authority and Defence Science Organisation.