Divergent Thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. It typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing, non-linear manner, such that as many ideas as possible are generated.

An example of divergent thinking is listing all the ways you can use a fork.

Divergent Thinking is about coming up with a high amount of wide vast array of many different alternatives or solutions to the problem at hand.

Convergent Thinking is the process of finding concrete and familiar solutions to problems. This type of reasoning involves solving a problem within the context of known information and narrowing down the solution based on logical inference.

Emergent Thinking is a natural process that comes as a result of rumination. It’s the most popular form of creativity you may be familiar with. It’s what happens when you daydream, ponder, go for a walk, shower or sleep.

Lateral Thinking is the solving of problems by an indirect and creative approach, typically through viewing the problem in a new and unusual light. A model of addressing problems by imagining solutions that cannot be arrived at via deductive or logical means. Or, to put it in simpler terms, the development of original answers to difficult questions where an unoriginal answer would also suffice.

Identify some of the directions of thought that are typically used by your peers in your industry when thinking on the situation or industry that you are thinking on. Then push your thinking in the polar opposite direction. If you’re working on a brand of beds or linen, most creatives will think about ideas about “soft.” So you should think about “hard.” Or “uncomfortable.” Now follow the flow of these new possibilities. Doing the 180º exact opposite of direction of where conventional wisdom suggests you think is an exercise worth exploring.

Write lines or ideas as fast as you can get them down. Come up with lots of ideas in a short amount of time. Don’t pause to even judge the quality of each. Do some speed-writing for an hour or three. Speed is your friend because you won’t have time to gauge the quality. In other words: write hot and fast, edit cold at a later time.

Leave the known and go to some galaxy of thought that has nothing to do with your brand’s category. Think outside the galaxy of your brand’s industry. First, imagine all of the knowledge, data and theories that have ever been entertained by the human mind, in topics outside of your topic at hand. For example, banking, golf, music, stocks, medicine, etc. Then, look into these galaxies of thought and ideas for ways to improve your brand or solve your brand’s advertising challenges or business challenges.

This is how truly fresh ideas are often found. By going to seemingly unrelated galaxies that have nothing to do with your box, opens your imagination up to whole new galaxies and universes of possibilities, instead of just searching in your solar system.

Free Association depends on a mental stream of consciousness and network of associations. There are two types: Centered association prompts you to generate multiple associations to the original trigger so that you delve into a particular area of associations. Serial association, start with a trigger, you record the flow of ideas that come to mind, each idea triggering the next, ultimately reaching a potentially useful one.

The artists’ creative way is the defeat of habit and boring by originality. Having an always-on open mind to the point that you have the ability to draw atypical conclusions. The artist has the lifelong tendency to question every norm, seek alternative ways, and connect unrelated dots which takes them down desired roads of going off script and creating a different path. The Artist’s Mindset is extremely open to the unknown and completely content when they don’y know where they’re going.

To young children, everything is possible. There are no rules or boundaries. That’s why adults see a nicely painted wall, and children see a perfect blank canvas for writing on. Seeing life from that angle gives you a new perspective to think up fresh ways of doing things.

If this mindset doesn’t come natural to you, spend a day acting and deciding exactly like a three year old would.