Creativity and innovation

For all situations, from big breakthroughs to marginal gains

In an era of rapid change, organisations need their staff to be creative and innovative.

This isn’t just a matter of what we do but of how we do it – creativity is just as much a feature of ‘boring’ management process flows as ‘exciting’ product development. This means creativity and innovation aren’t simply nice-to-have skills – they’re essential for success at every level in every organisation.

While some people seem ‘naturally’ creative, in reality innovative thinking can be developed by anyone. This workshop provides a great introduction to the creative process. You’ll learn how to challenge existing thinking and generate new ideas – and how to make sure the best of them are captured and implemented.

What’s in it for you?

  • Discover techniques to create new ways of thinking
  • Understand how the brain shapes our approaches to creativity and innovation
  • Learn some creative techniques for generating new and innovative ideas
  • Develop your work through 1% improvements and marginal gains
  • Know how to help foster a culture of creativity and innovation
  • Be able to take an agile approach to implementing ideas

Workshop outline

(Full-day version, 9.30 – 5.00)

1 The brain, creativity and innovation

  • What is creativity? What is innovation?
  • How the brain works – left and right brain thinking
  • What neuroscience tells us about how our brains ‘do’ creativity
  • Freeing yourself from a totally ‘rational’ approach
  • Understanding the difference between convergent and divergent thinking

2 Challenging the status quo

  • The danger of ‘playing it safe’
  • Understanding how challenging the status quo gives you and your organisation a competitive advantage
  • How the ‘disruptors’ succeed
  • How to develop a creativity and innovation mindset

3 Let’s get creative

  • ‘Killer’ brainstorming techniques that are truly effective
  • When to use different strategies and approaches
  • How to overcome blocks and unleash your imagination – what are your blockers?
  • Mind-mapping as a way of connecting ideas and concepts
  • Activities to practise using different techniques

4 The Disney strategy

  • A structured strategy for creativity
    • Dreamers
    • Realists
    • Spoilers

5 Lateral thinking and creativity techniques

  • The difference between vertical and lateral approaches to creativity and innovation
  • Simple models and processes to significantly enhance your ability to come up with new ideas and solutions to problems
  • Rapid prototyping – a testing and feedback system for creating solutions to any problem
    • Immersion
    • Insights
    • Strategy
    • Design

6 Using creativity to solve real business issues

  • What problems/opportunities do you have?
  • Uncovering the root problem

7 Creating a culture of creativity and innovation

  • How to foster a creative working environment
  • Encouraging 1% improvements and innovation through marginal gains
  • The concept of Kai-zen and how this can be applied in any role, anywhere in the organisation
  • What to do when ideas dry up
  • How to make sure the output is captured and implemented
  • Creating a plan to execute and monitor innovations

8 Actions and next steps

  • Review
  • Personal action planning
  • Next steps

‘Creativity and innovation’ is one of our most popular ‘modules’ and Scott Rumsey is one of our most popular trainers. See some of the feedback he’s had recently from delivering this module both virtually and face-to-face:

  • Great course for generating and implementing, creative and practical ideas.’
  • ‘You will refresh yourself on some well-known creative ways of working but more importantly learn lots of new ones too.’
  • ‘A good chance to stop and think about creativity and innovation with useful and applicable tips.’
  • Great ideas for ways to create creative -thinking.’
  • ‘A workshop that promotes creative thinking and how to apply within your context.’
  • ‘Although I have been in the business more than 40 years you can always “teach an old dog new tricks”. I am very creative but you sometimes forget in creative sessions that other people are not as confident as you, as I experienced in a session a couple of weeks ago. Now I know to label this person a reflective thinker as he came up with absolutely cracking ideas by email after the sessions which I was able to share. Now my lesson from this is to get the team to sleep on it and then start the creative thinking process again the following day/week. Thank you Scott.’
  • ‘Very interactive session, with lots of good advice.’
  • ‘Informative and interactive session.’
  • Great session and wonderful insight. Thank you for sharing knowledge – GOD bless you and your team, Scott.’
  • ‘Great session. Interesting ideas and comments from the group. Scott is a brilliant leader.’
  • ‘Very interesting. It’s given me ideas for encouraging new cohort to improve their interaction with team.’
  • Great food for thought. Looking forward to checking out the resources.’
  • ‘I always enjoy Scott’s sessions. This was a great light bite of a fascinating subject.’
  • ‘For such a short time lots was covered. Scott always makes you feel special. Thank you.’
  • ‘Keep it up!’
  • ‘Informative and great ideas to take forward in practice.’
  • ‘Great session as usual.’
  • Excellent session, good refresher and some new ideas and techniques from the group comments to go away and research.’
  • ‘Very useful ideas, especially the benefits of mind-mapping and the importance of aggregated marginal gains.’
  • ‘A really lively informative session in a short space of time. Really liked Scott as a presenter – very engaging for a large group over Zoom!’
  • Engaging content, good presentation skills.’
  • Great session – thanks.’

To discuss which management and personal effectiveness modules would best suit you, just give us a call on 01582 463460 and we’ll be happy to talk you through the options.