Think Like Bill Gates - Five Ways to Encourage Creative Thinking

Think Like Bill Gates - Five Ways to Encourage Creative Thinking .
The strategies we've outlined above work best in an atmosphere of
positivity and possibility. The following ideas may help you to
establish the best conditions for creativity: Believe in
yourself . Have faith that great ideas will come! Try
techniques such as Visualization  and positive
affirmations  to keep your spirits high. Find time for
downtime. Some of the best ideas appear when you're thinking about
something else – or not really thinking at all: maybe walking,
listening to music, or playing with your kids. Rest, relaxation and
sleep  are all important for recharging your creative
batteries. But make sure that you have a notepad or device handy
for capturing your brilliant thoughts, whatever you're doing! Vary
your environment. Changing your setting can transform your
thinking, and offer new sources of inspiration – we've already
mentioned the power of a country walk for the inventor George de
Mestral. Hold your meeting in a nearby coffee shop instead of the
conference room in your office, or ask your people to join you for
an "ideas walk " in the park. Conquer distractions . When
you're focused on generating ideas, and feel "in the zone " –
stay there! Do your thinking in a place where it's easy and
enjoyable to work. Spend some time with your phone and laptop
turned off and your door closed, so that nothing – and no one –
disrupts your train of thought. Have fun!  Playfulness
and humor are essential ingredients of creativity, especially if
you're exploring new ideas with a team. When the pressure's on to
come up with something radical, make sure that you're still relaxed
and open-minded enough for the very best ideas to emerge.