It was in 1956.
American psychologist, Joy Paul Guilford had just attempted to describe the methods by which we humans process our thoughts to solve problems we are faced with on a day-to-day basis.
He proposed two ways of thinking: convergent and divergent thinking.
Convergent thinking is the type of thinking that focuses on coming up with a single, well-established answer to a problem.
This type of thinking is especially honed in students.
Nearly all the tests we take from subjects in school require that we gather information from textbooks, journals and articles to provide one well-rounded answer to the questions we are asked.
Divergent thinking on the other hand explores some more creativity. It involves generating creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions.
A good example to illustrate this is what goes on in a class room (emphasis on the school system because it is the primary place where we learn the critical skill of problem solving).
Say a mathematics teacher had just taught their students on word problems with division of labour and decides to ask two questions.
Question 1: It takes 1 hour for one boy to fetch 6 buckets of water. How long does it take for 3 boys to fetch the same quantity?
Question 2: It takes 1 hour for one boy to fetch 6 buckets of water. Suppose he can get more water in a shorter time. How many ways can he get this done?
While the first question prompts the students to give one optimal answer, the other prompts them to stretch across all possibilities and generate a lot of ideas.
This not only helps the students do better at school, it radically changes how they they deal with the problems they encounter with work and life in general.
The truth is in the real world, you will encounter problems that are difficult, ambiguous and bereft of a clear solution and approach.
How do you deal with these problems? Well, you would have to be very divergent in your approach.
What this means is that:
PRACTICING DIVERGENT THINKING
· You are genuinely curious and are asking the right questions.
Dr Samuel Johnson once said ‘curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind’
Life needs an answer and the only way to giving the best answer to life is by being curious and asking the right questions. Great solutions come from great questions.
The world’s greatest innovators were people who moved from asking what? Why? When? How? to asking what if? Why not? When can? How about?
Mark Zuckerberg is a good example. Mark was a second year student at Harvard. He had just discovered that there was a need for students to reach to each other and started asking questions.
The result of Mark’s question is what would later birth Facebook and revolutionalise communication in the 21st century for good!
Begin to address an issue out of the immediate, obvious details.
Whenever a problem arises be the one who asks: What if…? Even if it can’t be done, if it could, how would I do it? Suppose if..? If I could…?
· You are open.
One common way of developing divergent ideas is called ‘kaleidoscopic thinking‘. This is a concept that Thomas Edison, arguably America’s greatest inventor, created when he talked about how he turned a problem around to see it from every different angle.
Have you ever seen a kaleidoscope?
When you look inside, you see a set of colourful fragments arranged to form a pattern. When you rotate the kaleidoscope, those same fragments rearrange to form a completely different pattern.
This is what openness entails.
It means you are adaptable and flexible enough to accept diverse perspectives or ideas on any issue.
This what you should do while trying to contemplate difficulties. Simply turn the issue on its head, make sure you are open to every option and let the ideas flood in.
This is the driving force for many successful organizations around the world. Openness play key roles in their leadership, management and entrepreneurial abilities.
They grow and prosper because there is a constantly influx of ideas on how to get better at solving the problems that confronts them daily.
Accessing issues from different perspectives allows you to discover if not, every possible solutions and then determine which is best suited for your peculiar situation.
Don’t restrict the ideas that come to you while being open. Most often than not, some of these ideas won’t give the intended outcomes. Don’t fret.
They certainly will open you up to a wide range of possible solutions that will in turn help you make the best decisions.
Making the best decisions would mean that you have been able to explore all options available to you.
This is where convergent thinking meets divergent thinking.
Generating so much alternatives and picking an absolute solution that fits so well to as to provide the necessary path way out of a problem.
This is the way to stay head-above in this problem ridden world.
SEE ALSO: CONSEQUENCES OF INTENTIONALLY IGNORING DANGEROUS HABITS
You have to be able to correctly access a problem, generate ideas, connect them, take creative risks and stay flexible.
In summary, you have to have the right mindset!
This is what drives you into the future of limitless possibilities.
