BARRIERS TO THINKING MORE CREATIVELY.

Most people can tackle problems at work and home more successfully by overcoming common obstacles to creative thinking, business consultant Alexander Hiam told the World Future Society, Bethesda, Md. "In creativity, effort counts." He has identified nine barriers to thinking creatively that can be surmounted if one is willing to form new habits:

Failure to ask questions. Taking things for granted can kill creativity, while asking impulsive questions can generate insights. Try looking at the world through more inquisitive eyes.

Failure to record ideas. You never know which ideas will help you tomorrow, so keep them all: in a notebook, on scraps of paper in a folder, on voice mail messages to yourself--whatever method works. Doubling the number of ideas you save enriches the raw materials needed for thinking.

Failure to revisit ideas. Review your notes from past projects. Become more aware of old assumptions that become "comfort zones," making it hard to see creative alternatives.

Failure to express ideas. Articulate your thoughts to others (or to yourself when alone). Expressing stray thoughts is a good way to consider them carefully.

Failure to think in new ways, Get out of the box by doing something new. Instead of making a list of pros and...