Introduction

The psychologist J.P. Guilford first coined the terms Convergent Thinking and Divergent Thinking in 1956.

Knowledge Workers primarily create things in their minds. To answer simple and complex questions that arise in daily work, accomplish outcomes, and solve problems, knowledge workers must use Divergent and Convergent Thinking.

Knowing the characteristics and when to use Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking can enhance our creativity and increase the probability of accomplishing our desired outcomes.

Divergent Thinking

Divergent Thinking is a thought process or method where we generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. It typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flow, non-linear manner. Examples of Divergent Thinking include using brainstorming, freewriting, and creative thinking. 

Divergent Thinking starts with an objective or an outcome that we want to accomplish. Once the outcome is defined, we apply the process of Divergent Thinking to come up with new ideas, possibilities, options, and pathways that can take us closer to the outcome.

“Divergent Thinking is the process of coming up with new ideas and possibilities—without judgment, without analysis, without discussion. It is the type of Thinking that allows you to free-associate, to ‘go big’ and to discuss possible new ways to solve difficult challenges that have no single/right/known answer”

Anne Manning

Convergent Thinking

Convergent Thinking is the process of strategically reviewing, evaluating, analyzing, and eliminating ideas, possibilities, options, and pathways to arrive at one solution. It focuses on coming up with a single, unambiguous, well-established answer to a problem that leads us towards the desired outcome. 

During this process, the answers are either right or wrong. We must consciously use data, facts, logic, standards, probabilities, or other decision-making strategies to evaluate each solution, searching for a single best unambiguous answer to the problem. 

“Convergent Thinking is associated with analysis, judgment, and decision-making. It is the process of taking a lot of ideas and sorting them, evaluating them, analyzing the pros and cons, and making decisions,”

Anne Manning

Divergent and Convergent Cycles

With every question, we typically use Divergent Thinking spontaneously in a free-flowing manner, where we generate and evaluate many creative ideas. We explore multiple possible solutions in a short amount of time and draw unexpected connections. 

After completing the Divergent Thinking process, we structure and organize ideas and information using Convergent Thinking to decision-making strategies, leading to a single-best, or most often, correct answer.

Conclusion

Both stages of thinking are absolutely essential for any kind of generative, creative work. 

If we always diverge but never converge, we never accomplish any outcomes. Similarly, if we try to converge (and “get it done”) without first diverging (brainstorming and researching), we won’t have any raw materials. At some point, we must kill off possibilities to allow some of them to come to fruition.