We all get mental blocks. We need to get unblocked. The way to get unblocked is to lose our inhibitions and stop worrying about being right.

The comedian John Cleese puts it rather more eloquently, ‘High creativity is responding to situations without critical thought’.

If you are in deadlock here are a couple of tricks you might try.

- Do the opposite of what the solution requires.

Look out of the window and whatever catches your eye, a bird, a television aerial, an old man on crutches or whatever, make that the solution to your problem.

When we attend a lecture, we generally go to see the speaker not to hear what they have to say. We know what they have to say. That’s why we go to see them.

How many speeches have your heard? How many of them can you remember?

Words, words, words and words.

In a song, we remember firstly the melody and then we learn the words. Instead of giving people the benefit of your wit and wisdom, try painting them a picture.

The more strikingly visual your presentation is, the more people will remember it. And more importantly, they will remember you.