Chris Croft Training

Develop Creativity: Proven Methods for Innovative Thinking

Chris Croft Training

Develop Creativity: Proven Methods for Innovative Thinking

Chris Croft

Instructor: Chris Croft

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
2 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
2 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Apply practical creativity techniques to generate innovative ideas and solve problems more effectively at work and in everyday life.

  • Use proven methods such as brainstorming, mind maps, lateral thinking, and AI to develop, evaluate, and implement creative solutions.

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Recently updated!

July 2026

Assessments

13 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer
Taught in English

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This course is part of the Decision Making: Complete Guide Specialization
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There are 10 modules in this course

This module introduces creativity as a practical skill for everyday decisions and workplace challenges. You will examine why creativity matters, how self-criticism can block useful ideas, and how creative thinking strengthens problem solving before solutions are selected. By the end of the module, you will be better prepared to treat creativity as a learnable habit that supports better choices at work and in daily life.

What's included

4 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

Creative performance depends not only on talent or technique, but also on timing, mental clarity, pressure, and environment. In this module, you will identify the conditions that help your ideas flow more easily and explore how to support creativity both individually and in teams. These tools can help you create better brainstorming sessions, stronger focus, and more productive creative habits at work and at home.

What's included

5 videos3 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

Many weak solutions come from solving the wrong problem too quickly. This module helps you pause, simplify, and reframe challenges so your creative effort is directed where it matters most. You will practice using incubation, long-term thinking, and opportunity-focused reframing to uncover better questions and more valuable solutions.

What's included

6 videos2 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

Innovation often begins when you stop accepting existing rules, pressures, and constraints as fixed. In this module, you will break complex problems into parts, examine hidden assumptions, think through downstream consequences, and explore how limits can either block or stimulate originality. These practices will help you challenge default thinking and discover options that are easy to miss under conventional approaches.

What's included

5 videos2 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

Creativity becomes more reliable when it is supported by repeatable habits rather than waiting for inspiration to appear. In this module, you will explore routines that use sleep, silence, environmental variation, playfulness, and experimentation to make creative thinking more sustainable. These habits can help you generate stronger ideas with less friction and more confidence over time.

What's included

6 videos2 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

This module gives you a practical toolkit of idea-generation activities to use when you feel stuck or need to widen your options. You will practice high-volume ideation, mind mapping, reversal, language-based prompts, and collaborative techniques that help disrupt habitual thinking. These methods are designed to be repeatable, flexible, and immediately useful in personal and professional problem solving.

What's included

6 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

Once you have initial ideas, creativity can be strengthened through systematic transformation and combination. In this module, you will use structured techniques to improve, remix, transfer, and reorganize ideas so they become more inventive and workable. These methods are especially useful when you want to move beyond obvious solutions and build ideas with stronger strategic value.

What's included

8 videos3 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

Innovation often comes from ideas that seem strange, indirect, or counterintuitive at first. In this module, you will explore how to turn weaknesses into strengths, challenge first instincts, and use structured surprise techniques to discover hidden value in unlikely options. These approaches can help you overcome fixation and produce more original and resilient solutions.

What's included

6 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

Creativity becomes more powerful when you involve other people intentionally and strategically. In this module, you will examine how delegation, suggestion, cross-team exchange, outsider input, and perspective-taking can improve the quality of ideas. You will also explore how optimism and constructive critique can help teams expand possibilities and strengthen solutions together.

What's included

6 videos2 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

Creative ideas create value only when they are evaluated, tested, and put into action thoughtfully. In this final module, you will focus on convergent thinking by screening options, running small trials, and choosing the right moment and setting for implementation. The module helps you move from possibility to action so that creative thinking leads to practical results in real situations.

What's included

4 videos2 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

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Instructor

Chris Croft
Chris Croft Training
25 Courses2,396 learners

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¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.