Harvard Business Publishing

One trick to creative thinking is to explore different ways to express an idea. Instead of just writing it down, why not make a sketch? Or draw a diagram? There are thousands of ways to represent an idea, and representing it in the most effective way can make the difference between getting the green light, and going back to the drawing board.

I have a background in design, which means I compulsively pick up most books on visual thinking and brainstorming. I was recently quite pleased to discover Dan Roam's book, The Back of the Napkin.

The premise of the book, which I agree with, is a pen and paper are enormously powerful tools for exploring ideas. Through various examples and stories, he makes the point that simplicity works in favor of good ideas and effective communication. If you're terrified of drawing by hand at a whiteboard, and want some tricks for making as much use as possible from your limited artistic skills, this is the book for you. It falls short in some places (an extended case study takes up more than its worth), but it's an easy read and will give you more choices the next time you have a dry erase marker in hand.

The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas With Pictures (Amazon). Companion website here.