Research tells us that 85% of accountants are analytical thinkers more so than creative problem solvers. Because we are what we repeatedly do and a key skill in the CPA profession is analysis and critical judgement – a way of thinking that kills ideas in their infancy. In a world filled with a myriad of complex challenges, having a versatile set of thinking tools is the avenue to discovering breakthrough solutions.

As Abraham Maslow wisely observed: relying solely on a hammer makes every problem look like a nail. An over-reliance on a single, preferred approach delivers same-old results. In today’s volatile, unpredictable business landscape, a one-size-fits-all way of solving difficult problems typically results in boring, uninspiring, invariably useless solutions.

Analytical thinkers are often beaten before they start. Without the competence or confidence in your ability to think differently, you can’t advance and prosper. According to The Harvard Business Review, “The idea that people can simply decide to think differently from the way they have in past is delusional. They need tools that bring new dimensions of insight.” This course has been offered to thousands of CPAs over the past four decades and is designed to get you out of the uninspiring box of rational analysis into the universe of “anything is possible.” Harness the power of your imagination, the force that identifies patterns beyond logic and generates unconventional solutions. 

The objective is not to find the great ideas; they're everywhere and abundant. Instead, discover how to select and nurture the ideas that will fuel your organizational success and professional growth. 

Most barriers to problem solving are self-perpetuated myths. As one attendee recently said, “I thought your tools were dumb until I actually tried them.” So much for being open-minded. To power your career, you need to consider the advantages of changing the way you usually think about and approach your problems. Social conditioning and corporate cultures instill comfort zones and reinforce routine practices where creative thinking is stymied, usually by the corporate culture or the powers that be. With an arsenal of proven techniques, you can venture beyond the ordinary and mundane approaches, challenge what too often hinders solution finding, break through conventional blinders, and harness the innate genius of groups or just decide to go it alone. 

• The simple, most common errors we make 
• What’s your dominant problem-solving style?
• The pros & cons of different CPS approaches
• The upsides and downsides of analytical thinking
• Rooting out dogma: How we became so analytical
• What we were not taught about solving problems
• Different creative thinking modes & techniques 
• The nominal grouping method & thinking hats
• Collaboration: Idea sharing and forced relationships  
• Morphology: De-constructing & reassembling ideas
• Attention management: Heuristics, analogies & synectics
• Making lemonade: The power & discipline of focus
• De Bono’s CoRT thinking tools & thought experiments
• Visualization: From doodling to strategic mind-mapping
• Future forecasting & realistic scenario planning/building
• 20 other ways to improve your problem-solving comptency
• Closing thoughts: How to begin your creative emancipation

Live webinars have varying levels of expected interaction, with some requiring microphone and camera capabilities to support a proper learning experience – please email pdreg@bccpa.ca if you have concerns. 

In general, we encourage participants to have their cameras turned on to enhance their virtual learning experience. This practice promotes a stronger connection with the instructor and fellow participants, and fosters improved communication and collaboration.

Live Webinar FAQs can be found here.  

Registration terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy can be found here. If you require further assistance, please contact the PD Department.