This course offers a step by step journey from problem identification to solution generation and additionally to evaluate creative techniques that challenge more traditional models of “outcomes thinking”. It offers wide range of tools and techniques and insights into how leaders can inspire the creative process within themselves and their teams and the wider organisation. Delegates will leave energized and convinced of their creative potential. Decision making and problem solving represent the most important of all managerial and leadership activities; if you can make timely, well-considered and informed decisions, then you can lead your team and organisation to deserved success.

This course will feature:

• The psychology of personality and how this influences the solutions we select.
• The application of whole brain thinking to the problem solving process
• How to balance the logical and creative dimensions of problem solving
• Assessing personal creativity and challenge the mental blocks that limit our thinking
• How to build an agenda for creative leadership

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Determine pragmatic methods for effective problem solving
• Appreciate the impact of personality on the decision making and problem solving process
• Evaluate and apply a structured approach to generate solutions to organisational issues
• Assess personal and organisational creativity and set an agenda for progression
• Apply appropriate creative problem solving techniques that generate original solutions

This course is suitable to a wide range of professionals or anyone wishing to improve their communication, interpersonal, problem solving and decision making skills. It will have specific appeal to:

• Leaders who seek to challenge the culture of their organisation and ignite innovation
• Team leaders interested in further developing their management skills and building collaborative practice
• Professionals wanting to further develop their management and leadership techniques
• Organisational leaders who make key business decisions
• New members of the management teams & anyone wishing to improve their communication, interpersonal, problem solving and decision making skills

This course will utilise a variety of proven adult learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension and retention of the information presented. The emphasis is on experiential learning and applying theory in a practical way to foster good practice. All activities are focused on making an impact and improvement. The learning process is designed to accommodate all styles of learner the activist, the reflector, the theorist and the pragmatist. Psychometric tools are employed to offer objective feedback on performance and utilise to target future areas of potential improvement.

Day One: The Psychology of Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Introduction: Why study problem solving and decision making
• A synopsis of psychological thought
• Values, Problem Solving and Bias in Decision Making
• Psychological type and Lateral Thinking for Problem Solving
• Psychometric assessment on your problem solving preferences
• Using a team approach to encourage structured and lateral thinking

Day Two: Problem solving, the cognitive process and whole brain thinking

• Problem solving: the highest order cognitive process
• Split brain theory to make informed and balanced decisions
• Developing openness to new ideas in making decisions
• The model of creative problem solving
• Lessons in facing the unexpected events
• Decision Making and the Management of Change

Day Three: Creating Continuous Improvement in the Workplace

• Encouraging creative problem solving for continuous improvement
• Appreciative Enquiry and a focus on positive dialogues
• Solution focus methodology: a radical transformational approach to solving problems
• Diagnostic tools for organisational improvement
• Using techniques to innovate and improve process and product
• The Disney Creative Thinking Strategy

Day Four: Building Creative Capability in Self and Removing Mental Blocks

• How creative am I’? Challenging self-imposed assumptions
• Thinking outside the box and ‘Imagineering’: current examples from technology
• Curiosita’: using the multiple intelligences of Leonardo da Vinci
• A model for organisational innovation
• Organisational culture and its influence on the creative organisation
• Creative leadership in times of crisis: the role of emotional intelligence in decision making

Day Five: The Creative Leader in the Innovative Organisation

• Leadership style and decision making activities
• Enhancing Serendipity
• Ensuring alignment with corporate mission
• Assessing creativity in your organisation
• Creating "innovation champions" as a strategy for fostering change
• Developing a personal action plan for the workplace and assessment guidance