During the second world war Winston Churchill declared a need for corkscrew thinkers – people with the ability to break away from the traditional linear way of thinking.
Without these individuals, Churchill believed that neither side would win the war because everyone was thinking in the same way: the enemy’s next move would always be predictable.
What followed was the creation of a number of special divisions. Alan Turing headed up the group who cracked the enigma code. Another counter-intelligence team devised the famous Operation Mincemeat. And the Special Operations Executive controlled a number of covert resistance units that would have been activated if Germany had invaded Britain. The department was unofficially known as the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare or Churchill’s Secret Army.
When Churchill talked about corkscrew thinkers, he was referring to individuals who possess creative problem-solving, initiative, leadership and emotional intelligence skills. Individuals who are able to look at problems in the world and see game-changing, innovative solutions.
Jump forward 65 years and these skills have never been more desirable or in demand. But our education system, which was designed in response to an industrialised Britain, is one that requires and promotes standardisation. Many students today believe all you need to be successful is to reach an answer that has been predetermined as correct. In other words, everyone is taught to think the same way.
Entrepreneurs are the perfect modern-day corkscrew thinkers. They’re people who aren’t afraid to take risks, step out of their comfort zones and challenge the status quo. They champion creativity and imagination. They have the courage to push traditional boundaries, and realise it’s worth investing the time to find the best solution – not the easiest.
Churchill’s theory – that as soon as you starting thinking in the same way as everyone else, you lose your advantage – still rings true today. But how do you encourage and engage corkscrew thinking in your own business? Here are our tips:
1 Remove time frames from creativity
Try to not apply strict time frames to creative processes. Allow more time than you think you’ll need. Often the first idea you think of won’t be the best and it’s worth investing the time to explore other available options. The danger of rushing creativity is that you are likely to reach the most obvious solution, which may get lost in the crowd – or worse, be worked on by your competitors too. Leave yourself room for brilliance.
2 Share ideas
Business people are often wary of talking about their ideas for fear that someone might steal them. But most of the time, even if someone does really like your idea, they’re unlikely to have the time, resources or passion to pursue it. There is great value in explaining your idea to people who aren’t friends or family. Not only does it allow you to hone your pitch but their honest feedback may further evolve your idea.
3 Take risks
Those who succeed are brave enough to take a leap of faith every now and again. That doesn’t mean being flippant with your decision making, but if you’ve been working hard and thinking smart, have faith in your business and yourself. If you don’t back yourself, how can you expect anyone else to do so?
4 Embrace failure
Failure is as much a part of the business path as success – and it’s likely you will experience more of the former before arriving at the latter. No matter how carefully you plan, there will always be scenarios you can’t control. When failure happens, use the experience to reflect on why it happened, what you can learn from it and what you would do differently next time. Don’t underestimate the long-term value of these lessons.
5 Be a magpie
Much in the same way that magpies collect shiny objects, look around at what inspires you and collect nuggets that might grow into interesting ideas. Accept that all inspiration is an evolution of a previous idea. By taking the time to think about and collect what you love, you are more likely to strike upon an idea that you are truly passionate about.
Neil Finnie is the founder and CEO of Corkscrew Experienceships.
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