Play Devil’s Advocate. As a discipline, think of the exact opposite of the view you have been holding. If you’ve been saying ‘Yes’ get the motivation for ‘No’.
For example, if you are an optimist work out the motivations of the pessimist. Most of us tend to see situations through the flawed windows of our own nature. We are optimistic or pessimistic and do not really participate with others in understanding all aspects and connotations of a problem. Using the Devil’s Advocate approach can help us study all aspects of a problem.
Each of us can walk in the shoes of the adversary. Don’t forget, while thinking you should remove all barriers and obstacles. Thinking is the easiest way of testing a solution by exploring all possibilities and prevent any major financial distress. But most people are as careful and timid with their thinking as they are with their actions, and lose the possibility of nurturing creative ideas.
Whilst people feel busy and productive, leaping into activity, you can happily be busy doing work which may be non productive. In my view thinking should be the major activity of managers.
Creativity helps us to find alternative solutions and progress lies in constantly striving, through innovation, to delight the customer.