Why great thinkers ask divergent questions | Natalie Nixon

Asking the wrong questions can hold you back. @NatalieNixon explains how to ask divergent questions to become a great thinker. Join us for a live Q&A with Natalie 5/17 ► hero sign-ups Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► Up next, 5 conversation skills that enhance your rational brain ► Natalie Nixon, a creativity strategist, emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions in order to foster innovation and creativity. She believes that inquiry and curiosity are crucial for driving innovation, as they can bridge information gaps and encourage expansive thinking.  Nixon introduces the “Taxonomy of Questions,“ which includes divergent questions (“Why?“, “What if...?“, “I wonder...?“) that promote big picture thinking, and convergent questions (“What?“, “Where?“, “When?“) that provide tactical guidance. To thrive in an ambiguous world, we need to balance both types of questions, embracing creativity as a uniquely human trait that sets us apart from technology and automation.  Nixon suggests becoming “clumsy students“ of something new in order to build confidence in asking questions and seeking help. By practicing this discipline of inquiry, we can develop our ability to think differently and drive innovation. 0:00 Asking better questions 1:11 Inquire and be curious 1:47 Two types of questions: Divergent & convergent 2:30 Creative questions = surviving automation 3:39 How to practice better questions Read the video transcript ► ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Natalie Nixon: Dr. Natalie Nixon is the Creativity Whisperer to the C-Suite, helping leaders achieve transformative business results by applying wonder, rigor, and foresight. A magnetic keynote speaker, Nixon shares why creativity is not a “nice to have” but a “must have” and leaves audiences with practical techniques to upgrade their organizational and individual creative capacity in the midst of ubiquitous technology and hybrid work environments — always with an eye on innovation and the future of work. Marketing guru Seth Godin has said that Nixon “can help you get unstuck and unlock the work you were born to do.” As CEO & Creativity Strategist at Figure 8 Thinking, Nixon is a highly sought after global keynote speaker & advisor, author of the award-winning book The Creativity Leap and editor of Strategic Design Thinking. Real Leaders named her one of the “Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World,“ and her clients have included Google, Salesforce, META, New Balance, and Deloitte. Profiles on Nixon as well as her writing have been featured in Forbes, INC, and Fast Company. She earned her B.A. from Vassar College and her Ph.D. from the University of Westminster in London. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read more of our stories: Critical thinking training: 5 key lessons for employees ► How to develop emotional intelligence training for leaders and managers ► How to create a learning culture in the workplace ► ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Big Think | Smarter Faster™ ► Big Think Our mission is to make you smarter, faster. Watch interviews with the world’s biggest thinkers on science, philosophy, business, and more. ► Big Think Looking to ignite a learning culture at your company? Prepare your workforce for the future with educational courses from the world’s biggest thinkers. Trusted by Ford, Marriot, Bank of America, and many more. Learn how Big Think can empower your people today: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more Big Think? ► Daily editorial features: ► Get the best of Big Think right to your inbox: ► Facebook: ► Instagram: ► Twitter: