Problem-solving or idea-generation skills are extremely valuable assets. It is hard to imagine a profession in which they would not be at least useful, and they often constitute a key competency in the workplace. Regardless of the industry, creativity is a desired phenomenon – it drives technological development, is the engine of marketing activities, the basis of work in many areas of science, not to mention various fields of art.
Without diminishing the achievements of the most outstanding individuals, it must be admitted that currently it has ceased to be an elite trait, available only to true geniuses. It is now known that everyone can train it, but it needs the appropriate space to develop. There are several ways to improve such abilities, both in terms of personal development and in the context of building a creative team.
However, considerations on this topic are worth starting with the fact that creativity takes different forms, depending on what problems or opportunities the environment offers us. According to a common definition, it is the ability to create something new and original, which makes this issue extremely broad. It is therefore worth approaching it from multiple aspects.
Personal Development
We often get the impression that people we consider creative have a kind of lightness, e.g., in formulating advertising slogans, creating impressive works of art, or finding surprising solutions. It’s worth remembering that this is most often the result of hard work, developing beneficial habits, and the right approach to the world.
If we want to have the ability to generate ideas, we need to be well grounded in the reality in which we move. We won’t build a spaceship if we don’t know the basic laws of physics, and we won’t create a catchy advertising slogan while being at odds with local culture.
Proficiency in our chosen field is the basis for further work with creativity. However, it’s worth remembering that every stick has two ends – sometimes too much knowledge, built on facts considered axioms rather than on deep understanding of dependencies, makes us have an illusion of certainty. It’s not good when it relates to the belief that something is impossible, unfeasible, unachievable. To remain a creative person, it’s always worth combining rich knowledge with an open mind, childlike curiosity, and humility towards one’s own beliefs.
However, proficiency in a given field is not enough. Creativity is an ability that affects all areas of our lives. It is useful, for example, in solving such everyday problems as a leaking faucet or a broken heel. Of course, broad knowledge about the world is always useful, but then the essence is the ability to think “out of the box,” i.e., outside of patterns. Here are some examples of habits and techniques that support creativity:
- Trial and error method. When the ideas you’ve considered no longer fit the problem you’re facing, dare to try others, even very absurd solutions. Our thought processes are governed by well-worn patterns that generally make life easier, but sometimes they are unnecessary ballast. Breaking free from their traps is not so simple, especially if we don’t know an alternative way of thinking. Then, if possible, it’s worth simply trying all solutions. Even if they are not right, they will most likely show us why something doesn’t work or inspire us to find a useful solution.
- Change of perspective. We all differ in how we think. For some, details are more important, for others a broad overview of the situation. Some feel comfortable in disorder, others value organized information. Someone may be guided by intuition, and someone else by logic. Sometimes we are more susceptible to emotions, and sometimes we choose rational argumentation. There are many such dimensions. If we know someone who thinks completely differently from us, in a situation of creative challenge we can try to “get into their skin” – think about how that person would approach the problem and let the area of our intellect that doesn’t belong to our basic “toolset” have a voice. An interesting game supporting creativity – “De Bono’s 6 Thinking Hats” is based on this very aspect of diversity, using colored hats as symbols of different approaches to problems: emotions, objectivity, pessimism, optimism, possibilities, organization.
- Language learning. In psycholinguistics (a science at the border of linguistics and psychology), there is a view that language shapes our way of thinking. In syntax, vocabulary, semantic connotations, and semantic fields, our way of thinking and hidden beliefs about the world are embedded. Learning new language structures allows adopting a different perspective. It’s an excellent training for the mind that opens up new thought paths, showing us that something can simply be built completely differently.
- Inspiration. Some claim that creativity is independently creating something new, but in reality, a genius is a person who can draw inspiration, copy elements from different sources, and put them together in a different configuration, form, or context. That’s why it’s worth exploring our field of interest by meeting people who share our interests, listening to what they have to say, getting to know the fruits of their work. The internet is full of thematic portals, blogs, Facebook profiles, YouTube channels that are worth subscribing to and learning daily what has been created by others.
- Breaks. One form of creative thinking is the phenomenon of incubation and insight. Many ideas arise in a long process that begins with encountering a problem and accompanies us “in the back of our minds.” This stage is incubation, the period during which unconscious thought processes occur, bringing us closer to a solution. The next stage is insight, the seemingly sudden finding of a solution. Sometimes spending too much time on a problem, we lose the appropriate distance or broader perspective. Taking a break from work, or even postponing it until the next day, often leads us to a surprisingly quick enlightenment effect immediately after returning to work, or even before we return to the task.
- Exercise your mind. Spend at least a few minutes a day on an activity that requires intellectual effort but is not related to your work. You’ll achieve a better effect if it’s additionally enjoyable for you. You can play a board game requiring planning, concentration, or ingenuity; read an interesting book written in non-trivial language; try to solve a puzzle or try to understand a phenomenon that you previously simply accepted as a fact.
- Take care of your health. Remember that lack of nutrients, exercise, and sleep negatively affects creative thinking abilities. Moreover, unlike logical thinking, which handles worse mood quite well, creativity is favored by a positive mood (with the exception of some forms of art that arise under the influence of various emotional states).
Creative Personality
There are certain personality traits that favor creative thinking. Some people undoubtedly have an easier start as a result, but it doesn’t mean we can’t work on ourselves to build them. Here are some examples of traits distinguishing highly creative people:
- Openness to experience is a trait that provides richer experiences and deeper knowledge about the world.
- Creative people tend to have reduced self-control. The result is greater spontaneity and expressiveness, and no major inhibitions.
- Creative people also have a lower tendency to ignore irrelevant stimuli, which allows them to see relationships unavailable to others.
- A sense of humor, using metaphors, and reading “between the lines” are also traits of creative people.
- Courage and self-confidence are attributes that allow testing the world, stepping out of the comfort zone, and thus touching what is truly new.
- Creative people are independent. They can think independently, make judgments, and act.
Creative Work Environment
However, innovations don’t arise in a vacuum. The potential of each individual can be effectively constrained by placing them in an unfavorable environment. Currently, in organizations, and especially in teams whose task is creative work, great emphasis is placed on environmental elements such as group atmosphere, task nature, or organizational culture. Here is a list of variables that create a workplace conducive to innovation:
-
Effective meetings. The ability to conduct meetings is a very important managerial competency. This is the key moment when ideas, perspectives, and solutions of all team members can clash. The cyclicality of these meetings is important, building a culture where creative meetings become a custom, as well as their defined structure and rules (e.g., brainstorming: temporary ban on criticizing ideas).
-
Appropriate matching of talents to tasks. According to the assumption that even the smartest fish won’t climb a tree, it’s always worth remembering about proper team selection. Awareness of what talents its members have allows assigning them tasks in which they can excel.
-
Openness. This aspect is defined by the level of support, non-judgmental atmosphere, and at the same time clear and free feedback. By building such a culture, fears of expressing one’s own opinion are minimized, as well as constructive criticism.
-
Clear goal and requirements. Their absence is like so-called stress-free upbringing – although it was once fashionable, we now know that too many choices cause moral and decision paralysis, leading to passivity, stagnation, and chaos.
-
Listening to team members. An employee who feels they have something to say is more likely to engage in generating ideas. However, it’s important that team members feel not only that they can speak, but also that their voice can lead to real change. In some companies, systems are introduced that institutionalize this idea, e.g., by placing a suggestion box in a place known to everyone, or in the form of periodic surveys addressed to all employees.
-
Group diversity. A variety of personalities is a range of different perspectives. The most creative teams are those composed of people united by a common goal, but differing in many qualities, from their specialization, through their way of thinking, personality differences, to cultural differences. Additionally, a team that stays together for too long loses the appropriate distance and broad perspective, unable to go beyond patterns. That’s why it’s sometimes worth engaging someone from outside, e.g., from another department, or even deliberately creating teams composed of individuals with diverse experience.
You don’t have to be a research team leader, filmmaker, or inventor to benefit from your creativity reserves. Daily work and fulfillment outside of it is extremely pleasant if we can observe and participate in creating something that no one has invented before. The key in this case is the belief that such potential lies dormant in everyone.
Read Also
Read also
Develop your skills
Want to deepen your knowledge in this area? Check out our training led by experienced EITT instructors.
➡️ Developing creative potential — EITT training
Frequently Asked Questions
Can creativity be learned or is it an innate talent?
Creativity can absolutely be developed and trained. While certain personality traits like openness to experience and independence may give some people a head start, everyone can improve their creative abilities through deliberate practice, building beneficial habits, and cultivating an open mind combined with deep knowledge in their field.
What are the most effective techniques for boosting creative thinking?
Some of the most effective techniques include the trial and error method for breaking free from thought patterns, changing perspective to see problems from different angles, and taking regular breaks to allow for incubation and insight. Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats exercise is also a valuable tool for exploring problems from multiple viewpoints simultaneously.
How can managers create a work environment that fosters creativity?
Managers should focus on conducting effective and regular creative meetings, matching talents to appropriate tasks, building an open and non-judgmental atmosphere, and ensuring group diversity. Listening to team members and giving them a genuine voice in decision-making also significantly increases creative engagement and idea generation.
Does mood affect creative performance?
Yes, research shows that a positive mood generally favors creativity, unlike logical thinking which can function well regardless of emotional state. Taking care of physical health through proper nutrition, exercise, and adequate sleep also has a direct positive impact on creative thinking abilities.