Creative Thinking: Diverge and Converge

Here's a little diagram I put together to highlight the differences in the creative process between divergent and convergent thinking. Like all models, it's not comprehensive, but meant to serve as a general guideline. (Convergence and Divergence are used in some form in most creativity models). The key is engaging BOTH types of thinking in a creative process. Next-level solutions emerge from engaging the unpredictability and expansiveness of divergent thinking first, and then applying the narrowing of convergent thinking to ground the new ideas into practical understandings and action steps.

Comments

[Kathy McGuire]

Great diagram. If you haven't already included Gendlin's Focusing method (www.focusing.org) for accessing implicit knowledge, you can find my simple, self-help version, Intuitive Focusing, on my website for Creative Edge Focusing. The Creative Edge is the actual, present, bodily-felt intuitive Edge for any individual in any situation. Careful attention to this "something-more-than-words," especially when accompanied by Focused Listening by another, facilitates the unfolding of new ideas and intuitions, unsticks emotional and creative blocks, allows access to the underbelly of interpersonal conflicts, and facilitates the emergence of Win/Win solutions in collaborative decisionmaking. Two simple self-help skills, Intuitive Focusing and Focused Listening, applied throughout organizations and carried over to the home. Many free resources.

[Michelle]

Thanks, Kathy!

[Keith Harmeyer]

Excellent visual, Michelle! For those interested, here's a link to our recent post on convergent/divergent thinking: http://tinyurl.com/26msjkv Thanks for sharing with us!

[Michelle James]

Thanks Keith. Great blog post! For those reading here, check out Keith's clear description of divergent and convergent thinking.

[Sunil]

Is 👌👌