What do you do if logical reasoning becomes a roadblock to creativity and innovation?

1 Embrace uncertainty

One of the reasons why logical reasoning can hinder creativity and innovation is that it often seeks certainty, clarity, and consistency. While these are important for some tasks, they can also prevent you from exploring new possibilities, taking risks, and learning from failures. To overcome this, you need to embrace uncertainty and accept that there is not always one right answer or solution. You can do this by asking open-ended questions, challenging your assumptions, and experimenting with different ideas.

2 Diversify your inputs

Another way to boost your creativity and innovation is to diversify your inputs, that is, the sources of information, inspiration, and feedback that you use. Logical reasoning can sometimes narrow your focus and make you rely on familiar or conventional inputs. This can reduce your exposure to diverse perspectives, experiences, and insights that can spark your imagination and innovation. To diversify your inputs, you can read, watch, or listen to something outside your usual domain, collaborate with people from different backgrounds or disciplines, or seek feedback from different audiences.

3 Switch modes

Logical reasoning and creativity are not mutually exclusive, but they require different modes of thinking. Logical reasoning involves analytical, linear, and convergent thinking, while creativity involves intuitive, lateral, and divergent thinking. Sometimes, you may need to switch modes depending on the stage or nature of your challenge. For example, you may use divergent thinking to generate many ideas, then use convergent thinking to select and refine the best ones. To switch modes, you can use different tools, techniques, or environments that suit your desired mode of thinking.

4 Challenge yourself

One of the benefits of logical reasoning is that it can help you improve your skills and performance by setting goals, measuring progress, and applying feedback. However, it can also make you complacent or resistant to change if you stick to what you already know or do well. To avoid this, you need to challenge yourself and stretch your abilities beyond your comfort zone. You can do this by taking on new or difficult projects, learning new skills or technologies, or seeking constructive criticism.

5 Have fun

Finally, one of the simplest and most effective ways to overcome the roadblock of logical reasoning is to have fun. Having fun can stimulate your creativity and innovation by enhancing your mood, motivation, and curiosity. It can also reduce your stress, anxiety, and fear of failure, which can inhibit your logical reasoning. To have fun, you can play games, do hobbies, or engage in humor that make you happy and relaxed. You can also incorporate elements of fun into your work, such as using gamification, storytelling, or rewards.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?