Sometimes just seeing a problem differently can enable you to find new solutions. Try writing out the problem as a simple sentence or phrase and then, rewrite it, substituting one or two keywords with synonyms – use a thesaurus if necessary. If it’s a creative brief you’re working on, try rephrasing the proposition or the objective as many times as you can. Different words have different connotations and will trigger different images and ideas in your mind. Although this technique will generate some strange and awkward-sounding phrases, it should also help to spark alternative ideas.
– Tools for Idea Generation
The above is just about an idea I’ve been toying around as I read leadership books. Just wanted to add this quote here.