The Executive Step: Where to Start

Knowing where to start in working through a challenge is a skill unto itself. It also marks the very first step in Creative Problem Solving, a process that makes use of different thinking skills for solving complex problems.

Gathering information preceeds how to proceed.

And gathering matters because data, lots of options, has value when it comes to decision making.

How to make a face from nature? This is an unclear challenge. A gathering of data or plant material provides a variety of possible options. Select what makes sense. What would makes good eyes? What could be hair and so on? The standouts get selected for the face form. The rest goes back to nature.

One definition of creativity is a novelty that is useful. A truly natural face is different and very unexpected as an English class project. This creative exercise is also novel and useful in communicating principles of creative process.

Ta-da! What a beautiful and direct reflection of Creative Problem Solving in action.

So step one guys, gather data, then decide.

This first meta step, thinking about thinking, is where the Creative Problem Solving Process begins.

The face was for fun, to learn this executive step. Now let’s get on to the real challenge…

Spoiler alert: creative thinking is organized thinking.