Associative Thinking: Master the Skill of the World's Greatest Innovators

Leo Chan

Keynote Speaker, Trained 130k+ Learners

The world is full of inspiration. Learn how to turn it into breakthrough ideas.

Do you find yourself stuck in the same thinking patterns? Struggling to find fresh ideas or solve problems creatively? What if the world was already full of answers — you just needed to learn how to see them?

Imagine the world around you as a treasure trove of inspiration, where a simple walk could lead to your next breakthrough. This is the magic of associative thinking, the secret behind Velcro, inspired by the burdock burr. It's the skill of connecting seemingly unrelated dots to create something extraordinary.

This is a trait of the world's greatest innovators, and now it can be yours too. I'll unravel the mystery of associative thinking and give you practical tools to implement right away. This isn't just a concept to discuss; it's a skill to master.

Learning Outcomes:

Discover what associative thinking is and why it's the trait of great innovators
Break free from status quo thinking and unleash your natural creative potential
Apply 8 practical tools to connect unrelated ideas and generate breakthrough solutions

Regardless of your industry or role, you'll be able to apply this to your work immediately.

I've spoken on this at SXSW, ATD, ComNet, CPSI and in private corporate training.

Workshop agenda

11:00AM EDT
Introduction
I'll open this course with a powerful story and you'll get to do a fun warm-up exercise.

11:20AM EDT
Foundations
Discover what exactly is associative thinking and why it's so powerful. Spoiler alert: It's a trait practised by the world's greater innovators.

11:30AM EDT
The Process
Learn how associative thinking works and see how it's helped Leo innovate a 30,000 sq. ft innovation centre and apply it in business.

11:45AM EDT
Case Studies
Three case study examples of how associative thinking has been used in business.

12:00PM EDT
Reflection Break
We'll take a short 30 minute break.

12:30PM EDT
Tools
You'll be equipped with eight different practical tools to implement associative thinking in your work.

1:45PM EDT
Wrap Up and Reflection
I'll wrap up the course with some thought starters and next steps.

Learn directly from Leo

Leo Chan

Contact

Keynote Speaker | LinkedIn Learning Instructor | TEDx & SXSW | Trusted by 130K+ learners globally

Who this workshop is for

The Lifelong Learner: You're always growing and upskilling. You love discovering new ways to think. This will become a new favorite skill!
The Professional: Anyone who wants to level up idea generation and bring more originality and creativity to their work.
The Leader: Managers, emerging leaders & founders who need to solve problems more creatively and inspire innovative thinking in their teams.

What's included

Live sessions

Learn directly from Leo Chan in a real-time, interactive format.

Community of peers

Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.

Certificate of completion

Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.

Maven Guarantee

Your purchase is backed by the Maven Guarantee.

Testimonials

Thank you once again Leo Chan, from the bottom of my heart. Your workshop helped me to discover my strength, and it is something I can start building on 🚀 All this time when things didn’t seem to make sense, the truth was that I was ’collecting the dots’ across a wide spectrum, just to be able to connect them in a surprising way.
Ella-Roosa Tenhunen
Founder
I appreciated how this encouraged me to think creatively and outside of the norm. The exercises helped me "pull up" from the tactical solutions and explore abstract thinking.
Johanna Hubbard
Analyst III
Loved all of it!! Practical tools were very enlightening and the stories you told to demonstrate examples were fun but more importantly got the key message across clearly.
Shay Butler
Learning Program Manager
It was so nice to have some words to put to what I do. I’m always making connections, remembering odd things from many years back and applying them to seemingly unrelated things. I love the worksheets to push myself to think of new connections and I can see how it’ll really help in my work!
Charlotte Lasek
Owner
Leo has an incredible talent for making difficult concepts accessible with plain language and story. His sessions utilize practical exercises and usable tools to create immediate positive cognitive and behavioral change.
Becky Antkowiak
CEO, CWI
Leo’s contagious enthusiasm, inherent curiosity, and intelligence surrounding the science of innovation is leagues beyond others in this field. He is the innovation expert and speaker you have been looking for.
Natasha Ganem
Founder, Lion Leadership