Creativity is the ability to generate novel and useful
ideas. It is often considered as a key skill for solving complex problems,
generating innovative solutions, and expressing oneself in original ways. But
how can we enhance our creativity and overcome mental blocks?
One powerful technique is to use analogies. Analogies are
comparisons between two things that are similar in some way, but different in
others. For example, we can compare the human brain to a computer, or a cell to
a factory. Analogies help us to transfer information that we understand in one
domain, the source, to help resolve a challenge in an unfamiliar area, the
target. In essence, analogies are bridges that allow our cognitive processes to
quickly transport clusters of information from the unknown to the known, and
back again.
Analogies can also be used to disrupt habit-bound
thinking and make way for new ideas. By finding unexpected similarities between
seemingly unrelated things, we can break free from our assumptions and biases,
and generate novel perspectives and insights. For example, we can compare a
business problem to a chess game, or a social issue to a musical composition.
These analogies can help us to see new patterns, possibilities, and solutions.
But how can we find good analogies for our creative
challenges? One method is to use the “imaginary friend” role storming
technique. This is a variation of the brainstorming technique, where we
generate as many ideas as possible without judging or filtering them. The
difference is that instead of generating ideas as ourselves, we imagine what
someone else might say or do if faced with the same challenge. This someone
else can be anyone we choose, such as a famous person, a fictional character, a
historical figure, or even an animal or an object. The idea is to adopt a
different perspective and mindset, and use it as a source of analogy for our
target problem.
For example, suppose we want to write a catchy slogan for
a new product. We can imagine what our imaginary friend would say or do in this
situation. Let’s say our imaginary friend is Sherlock Holmes, the famous
detective. How would he approach this task? What would he say or do? Here are
some possible ideas:
·
He would use his deductive skills to
find the most relevant and distinctive features of the product, and use them as
the basis of the slogan.
·
He would use a catchy phrase or a
wordplay that relates to his profession, such as “Elementary, my dear Watson”
or “The game is afoot”.
·
He would use a question or a
challenge that intrigues the audience and invites them to try the product, such
as “Can you solve this mystery?” or “Are you ready for a new adventure?”.
By using Sherlock Holmes as an imaginary friend, we can
generate some creative slogans that we might not have thought of otherwise. Of
course, we can use any other imaginary friend we want, and see what ideas they
can inspire. The more diverse and different our imaginary friends are, the more
varied and original our ideas will be.
Analogical creativity is a powerful tool for enhancing
our creative potential. By using analogies, we can transfer information from
one domain to another, and generate new insights and solutions. By using
imaginary friends, we can find novel sources of analogy, and adopt different
perspectives and mindsets. By combining these two techniques, we can boost our
creativity and overcome mental blocks. Try it out for yourself, and see what
amazing ideas you can come up with!