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Using Creative Thinking to Solve Problems
July 24, 2013
8:00AM 9:15AM
Anna Thiele
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SESSION DESCRIPTION
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Thinking creatively can be a challenging task yet it can produce
high-
quality solutions to difficult problems. This session, designed
for both
Senior Corps and AmeriCorps program staff, provides a high
level
overview of why creative thinking is important to our work,
outlines
tactics/questions that will help break away from our normal
thinking
patterns, and demonstrates a hands-on creative thinking activity
that can
be used as an effective strategy for coming up with
out-of-the-box
solutions for challenges we face in National Service.
This is a very interactive session and attendees should come
prepared to
practice creative thinking (early in the morning) so be sure to
caffeinate!
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MissionOneStar Foundation connects partners and resources to
build a stronger nonprofit sector in Texas.
VisionOneStar Foundation envisions Texas having the
strongest,
most effective nonprofit sector in the country.
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SESSION OUTCOMES
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Understand why creative thinking matters and
how this relates to our work.
Identify a toolkit of strategies to encourage
creative thinking.
Practice creative thinking via an interactive
exercise.
Understand how to adapt the toolkit of strategiesand the
interactive exercise to encourage creative
thinking at your commission/program.
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SESSION AGENDA
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Why is Creative Thinking Important?
Creative Warm-ups
Mental Blocks
Creative Strategies
Unloading The Plane Activity
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WHY PRACTICE CREATIVE THINKING?
Why do you think its important to practice
thinking creatively?
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WHY PRACTICE CREATIVE THINKING?
Promotes emotional, social, cognitive and
physical development.
Encourages openness to diversity and new
ideas.
Promotes compassion.
Encourages ongoing learning.
In an increasingly challenging grant and
financial environment, we have to do more
with less.
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WHY PRACTICE CREATIVE THINKING?
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http://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativity
Most important leadership qualities over the next five years
http://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativityhttp://www.fastcompany.com/1648943/most-important-leadership-quality-ceos-creativity
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CREATIVE WARM-UPS
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If we eliminate all plastic bags in the world, then .
And that would mean that .
List ways to drink water WITHOUT holding the glass
with your hands.
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CREATIVE WARM-UPS
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Think of ways to remove a mouse stuck in a 3 foot
pipe without injuring or killing the mouse or
destroying the pipe.
Why do we have eyebrows?
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NATIONAL SERVICE CHALLENGES
Your supervisor/federal agency/state
commission tells you that you need to come up
with a plan to do ________________________.
Fill in the blank with a very challenging yet
measureable goal that youve been given.
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MENTAL BLOCKS
What other mental blocks have you heardfrom others (or
yourself)?
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MENTAL BLOCKS
Im not creative.
Being wrong is bad.
Being a serious person. Following rules.
Being practical/logical.
Trying to find the right answer.
Play is not work.
http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/
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http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/http://www.copyblogger.com/mental-blocks-creative-thinking/
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CREATIVE STRATEGIES
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Combine Can I combine something in a new way?
Reverse: Can I reverse some parts of process here?
Eliminate: Can I eliminate or remove some part or process?
Alternative: Can I use alternative methods or materials?
Twist: Can I twist things around a bit?
Extend: Can I extend, elaborate or add something?
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UNLOADING THE PLANE
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UNLOADING THE PLANE
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UNLOADING THE PLANE
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0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0 Minutes 1 Minutes 2 Minutes 3 Minutes
Brain
Usage
Minutes
Idea Generation
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UNLOADING THE PLANE
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Asset Utilization
Grant Funds Spent
Grants Funds Unspent
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UNLOADING THE PLANE
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Lets do some creative thinking
about the National Service
challenges you face!
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SESSION OUTCOMES
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Questions? Feedback?
Credit: Franz Ehrhardt CASCA Consulting
Anna Thiele
Senior Grants Officer
[email protected]
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www.onestarfoundation.org
