Non-Linear in critical thinking means approaching an issue or problem without a traditional, logical route. It needs creativity, intuition and out-of-the-box thinking to come up with new ideas and solutions.

Give non-linear thinking a try with these techniques:

• Brainstorming: Think of as many ideas as possible, even if they seem random or bizarre. Sort through the ideas to find the ones with potential and develop them.
• Visualising ideas: This is making a visual of your ideas and topics, using branches and sub-branches to see the relationships among them. This technique helps you get creative with your thinking.
• Connecting the dots: You take two different things and make a connection to get new ideas. For instance, you might think of a business problem as a puzzle or a game and use what you know from one to solve the other.
• Thinking with metaphors: This involves using metaphors to give a problem or situation a different spin, which can help you get a new perspective and come up with new ideas.
• Doing a 180: This means flipping the problem around and looking at it from a different angle. Instead of asking “how can we solve this problem?”, you might ask “what would make this problem worse? This can help you recognise any hidden assumptions and boundaries that could be hindering your thoughts.

Using non-linear thinking techniques as part of your critical thinking process can help you come up with more creative and innovative solutions.

Checkout this great critical thinking program from Marcus van Wyk.

Best ,

Marcus van Wyk