This year, Valentine’s Day hit different.

As roses flew out of convenience stores and couples tucked into candlelit meals, one journalist experienced something extraordinary. On the evening of February 14th, New York Times reporter Kevin Roose found himself wiling away the hours, not with his beloved, but at his keyboard, exchanging passionate missives with the Bing chatbot, Sydney.

Hitendra Patel is an innovative thought leader, keynote speaker, and author. He has taught innovation and strategic growth to over 5000 MBA students, including at Hult International Business School and the University of Toronto. He is also Managing Director of the IXL Center, a global innovation management consulting firm.

What’s more, Patel is Board Director for the Hult Prize Foundation, Board Director and Founder of Pollux Automation, a partner and member of the Clinton Global Initiative, and more. Patel has also published numerous books, including Greenovate!, Connectivate!, and Healthovate!

When applied effectively, critical thinking skills can benefit us in both our personal and professional lives. Learning how to reason and problem solve enables us to identify arguments and evaluate their validity. It leads us to make more informed judgments about issues. When we think critically, we are less likely to jump to conclusions or accept others' claims at face value.

What’s the secret to being more creative? Scientific research shows that some everyday activities – going for a walk, napping, taking a shower – give your brain the chance to wander and come up with creative new ideas. Our latest Skye Learning video explains it all for you.

There are several tools that managers can use to help foster creativity and innovation in teams. The SCAMPER method (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put, Eliminate, Reverse) can spur the creative brainstorming process by tasking team members to think outside the box and use their imaginations. Learn more about the SCAMPER method in our latest infographic.

Whether you work in business or high tech, entertainment or the arts, creativity can open the door to your future success. But how can a person become more creative? Our latest Skye Learning video explains the latest thinking on the psychology of creativity, including the crucial concept of "lateral thinking."