Classic de Bono: creativity and sensitivity Over the years Dr Edward de Bono has shared great insights through his messages. This series of blogs revisits some of those highlights.

‘creativity’ and ‘sensitivity’…

The other day I was sitting in a plane next to someone whose business it is to sell chocolate. I gave him a very simple idea. He seemed to like it, and said that he fully intended to try it out. Idea generation is not difficult if you get into the habit of doing it. Quite often the outcome is a very simple idea, and you wonder why no one has thought of it before. What is needed is a combination of the processes of creativity and sensitivity. The value sensitivity is almost as important as the creativity. How good are you at recognising an idea that seems to have value? If the new idea is somewhat similar to an old idea, then it is easy to see some value. But if the idea is truly novel, how do you assess value? The most difficult are the ideas that do not have value, but before value can be seen there has to be a period of ‘education’. Many such ideas are turned down.

Edward de Bono nmt, 19th December 2001, London

  About the author: Dr Edward de Bono is a world leading authority on thinking skills. Creator of the famous Six Thinking Hats®, Lateral Thinking and many other workshops he has authored 62 books published in 32 languages. Holst is Dr Edward de Bono’s partner in Europe. Click here for more information about Dr de Bono and his tools. Would you like to change how people think? Consider adding Dr Edward de Bono’s tools to your portfolio and become a certified de Bono trainer. The next Six Thinking Hats Workshop is 12th November central London. Book here.]]>