Our left brain typically provides sequential, reductionist, rational, logical and convergent thinking.  This can be immensely powerful.  Think of Imperial Rome, and what can be achieved by organisation and standardising.  This type of thinking allows us to plan and undertake complex tasks, and lies behind much of our modern civilization and culture - a legacy from the Romans, perhaps.

However, left brain thinking can also be a constraint.  Our left brains can act as a censor - see Why CPS.  So use left brain techniques selectively, and with care.

n a left-brain dominated world it is appropriate to put much more emphasis on divergent techniques than convergent, since narrowing down, winnowing out and eliminating ‘bad’ ideas is something we are naturally good at.  A lot of creative techniques are about trying to prevent or suspend left-brain control.  However, convergence - narrowing down to a specific instance and documenting it - is a vital part of CPS.  In a left-brain dominated world, many of us take to this like a duck to water, and need no encouragement.

Techniques include formal planning approaches such as the Prince 2 methodology for Projects, Critical Path Analysis and related techniques (GANTT Charts, Project Evaluation and Review).  These are tremendously powerful in the right circumstances, but should be invoked only where necessary.  Software is available to support these techniques, but you can often achieve the same (or better) results on a smaller scale using post-it notes.

Bullet proofing - what might go wrong? - also tends to use the left brain.  Documenting and organising data - once you've successfully diverged - is very much a left brain activity.  Ranking, Plus / Minus / Interesting analysis and other selection techniques fall into this category.  The KJ or ‘post-it’ method is an excellent participative technique for grouping ideas, that allows the implicate order to reveal itself (apologise to Neils Bohn). Ranking by ‘sticking dots’ is also recommended.

When using convergent techniques good facilitation is critical. Convergence can hurt, so: watch what’s happening to the group (and yourself).  Manage the process, cycle often, close late.