Associating means connecting the unconnected to create something new. Unexpected links are a key engine of breakthrough ideas.

Creativity is not a linear process but a set of trainable behaviors.
The more these behaviors are practiced, the more likely creative outcomes become.

Convergent thinking is about evaluating, refining, and selecting ideas.
The goal is to choose the solution with the greatest value.

Creativity = Novelty × Usefulness.
Creativity is a human ability that exists in everyone and can be trained like a muscle.

Cultivating means sharing ideas and problems and being open to the perspectives of others.

Divergent thinking focuses on generating many different ideas for a problem.
Quantity and openness come before evaluation.

Diversifying means inviting different perspectives and ways of thinking into the process. Diversity increases the chance of original, better ideas.

Empathizing means looking beneath visible behavior to understand needs and perspectives. It helps you find insights you would otherwise miss.

Empowering means creating psychological safety so people dare to speak up. Trust and appreciation make experimentation and learning possible.

Ideating means giving ideas time to grow, allowing imagination and trusting creative intuition.

Imagining means forming new mental images and possibilities beyond what already exists. It opens the door to bold directions and fresh concepts.

Incubating means letting ideas develop in the background while you do something else. Stepping away often helps insights surface naturally.

Leading means taking responsibility for creativity in the group, not just managing tasks. It’s about setting pace and guiding when to open up or narrow down.

Listening means paying full attention to what’s being said and what’s not being said. It improves understanding, memory, and the quality of ideas you build on.

Observing means noticing details intentionally instead of running on autopilot. Better observation gives your mind more “raw material” for creative connections.

Perceiving means observing the world attentively and empathically, using all senses.

Prioritizing means evaluating ideas beyond what feels “safe”. It helps you select options that balance originality, impact, and feasibility.

The problem space is about understanding the problem itself.
Causes, characteristics, and perspectives are explored before solutions are considered.

Questioning means challenging assumptions and looking at a situation from new angles. Good questions create new paths to better solutions.

Reflecting means noticing what holds you back and naming it honestly. It builds creative confidence by making fears and patterns visible.

Remapping means sorting and connecting insights after an idea-generating phase. By finding patterns, you turn scattered inputs into usable structure.

Rethinking means questioning assumptions to better understand problems and challenge the status quo.

Ritualizing means turning creative behavior into a repeatable routine. Small anchors and triggers help creativity become a habit.

Sensemaking means combining ideas into meaningful, creative solutions through experimentation and play.

The solution space is about generating and shaping possible answers to a problem. Options are explored, tested, and refined until a useful direction becomes clear.

The solution space focuses on developing and selecting suitable solutions for a defined problem.

Storytelling means making ideas memorable and shareable through narrative. It helps you persuade, get feedback, and move ideas forward.

Unboxing means breaking a vague or complex problem into smaller parts. It reduces overwhelm and shows where to start.

Visualizing means making ideas visible through sketches, symbols, or simple prototypes. Images create shared understanding and spark new perspectives.

Wondering means exposing yourself to new things and letting curiosity lead. It fuels discovery and keeps your creative mind open.