Problem Solving & Creative Thinking

Introduction

Problem Solving & Creative Thinking training courses at Redcliffe begin with the following:

• What exactly is ‘creative thinking’?
• When is it appropriate?
• What are the typical problems faced in a work environment?
• Defining the problem fully
• Problem definition tools
• Applying ‘5 Whys’
• The value of the process
• Using data effectively
• Example business issues
• Exercise: What are the problems?

Creativity: What It Is and How to Get It

• We define creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills
• Enable the development of creative thinking ability, and the right time to do so
• As an example, we will use the 'Disney Creative Strategy'
• The second example covered is the ‘Toyota Approach’
• Exercise: Team creativity – the process: taking an actual problem from definition to solution

Identifying Multiple Solutions

• Creative thinking workshops consider 'more than one way' - sessions will investigate these
• We’ll evaluate multiple approaches
• Discuss various solution tools
• Exercise: Which solution – and why?

Innovative Problem-Solving in Practice

• Don’t try to solve problems that are irrelevant or immaterial
• Some things can’t be ‘fixed’, but they can always be improved
• Participants connect to the big picture
• Gaining buy-in to your ideas
• Always use ‘even better if’
• Putting your ideas across
• Defining the benefits
• Exercise: “Here’s an idea…”

The Way Ahead

• Recognise when “mission accomplished” has been achieved
• Keep an open mind
• Identifying further development areas
• Immediate goals
• Exercise – My action plan

Creative thinking skills training concludes with a Q&A session.

A highly successful individual delivers Redcliffe’s problem solving and creative thinking skills training. Over four decades, his career was fast-tracked to senior management with Lloyds Bank at an early age. Headhunted to join a merchant bank at the main board director level, it becomes clear why we’ve chosen this specialist. With over 40 years of experience in the UK banking and financial services sector, there’s nobody better suited for presenting this session.

As a freelance soft skills training consultant since retirement, our specialist is currently an external Master Trainer at both HSBC and Bank of China. At HSBC, he helped screen and assess both prospective and existing trainers for soft skills capabilities and has delivered ‘train-the-trainer’ programmes. At the Bank of China, he has designed and successfully delivered a comprehensive presentation skills programme to members across the company.

This expert has an excellent background and reputation for delivering soft skills training. He has presented in the UK, Europe and across the world, always receiving excellent feedback on creative thinking workshops and similar sessions.

Problem solving and creative thinking training courses at Redcliffe ensure participants take the time to think critically and creatively. Above all, sessions encourage the use of common sense and sound judgement when required. We explore when it’s applicable to apply this common sense and how this can be used to your advantage.

This highly interactive session is suitable for professionals working in both finance and industries that require similar skills for progression. Additionally, we will assess any potential issues and determine how to handle them productively and creatively.

Sessions consider:

• Essential skills to facilitate effective problem-solving and thinking
• How to think creatively and productively whilst remaining strictly within a firm's guidelines
• How to build and expand decision-making & creative problem-solving skills
• The use of traditional and creative tools for identifying causes & generating creative solutions to problems
• How to employ and utilise creativity and techniques of lateral thinking as business tools
• Analysis and the solving of actual work problems
• Logical application and timely creative approaches
• Integration into strategic approaches and overall business objectives is covered throughout creative thinking skills training

• Having identified a lack of ‘real-life’ examples of creative thinking workshops as a whole, our sessions are designed for the modern professional. We focus on actual ‘real work’ issues before defining the best way forward.
• Our course covers the ‘toolbox approach’, allowing participants to adapt content based on any given situation.
• A similar course will only cover the basics. At Redcliffe Training, we combine the application of basic methods (ensuring everything is covered) with more advanced techniques to really ‘get the job done’.
• Delivered by a specialist with industry, training and consultancy experience, Redcliffe’s creative thinking skills course is accompanied by a wealth of knowledge like no other.

At Redcliffe, problem solving and creative thinking skills training help you recognise and develop personal creativity while gaining the confidence to use these newfound, trusted techniques.

This session also teaches how to recognise personal capacity and its further development. In the application of a structured process to identify problems and potential issues, course participants will generate a wide range of solution-based ideas. From here, one or more issues are assessed for communication and implementation and through this technique, attendees find many benefits.

Sessions are highly interactive. Participants are encouraged to apply and manage a selection of evidence-based creative approaches through individual and collaborative work.