A stream of thoughts with several ideas per minute, sometimes striking the imagination – this is how the ideal worker, creative person, creative person should look like.
It is worth coming up with the concept of creativity as a gift from heaven, shrouded in a halo of mystery, called inspiration and attributed to great artists. Creativity is inherent in human nature. As thinking beings, humans not only react to what is happening in the environment, but are also an important source of all innovation and change.
There are tests that measure a person’s creativity, such as the Guilford test. It consists in inventing, within a limited time, various uses for a common object, such as a brick. It evaluates so-called creative fluidity, i.e. how many ideas the subject will generate, and so-called adaptive flexibility, i.e. the fact that ideas come from different areas, which expresses the ability to use different properties of the brick.
How to develop creativity
Of course, there are some genetic predispositions, some people “at the start” this potential is less, others more, but you can strengthen and develop it with the help of exercises. Both methods of learning or memorizing are effective, as are methods of stimulating creativity.
Development Exercises
First of all, it is about relaxing criticism and freeing yourself from the idea that something is impossible, too expensive or not, as it should be – analytical thinking and critical thinking require mental operations other than creativity, and can block them.
The creative process
The classic creative thinking chain begins with a preparation phase, in which the data necessary to solve a given situation is collected and, on an intellectual level, they try to consciously come up with solutions or generate ideas. This is tedious work, and finally, frustration can arise, that is, the state of “impossible”.
And then – instead of banging your head against the wall and getting angry at yourself or at the world – you can take a conscious break, assuming that if some idea comes to mind at this time (which may come, but not necessarily), then you should write it down. Some even put a piece of paper next to their bed because research shows that around 3:00 am, either anxieties that were dismissed during the day or brilliant associations with what we have been working on are released from the subconscious mind. This longer break is the incubation phase. Enlightenment can occur just at this time or when you return to work.
Once many solutions have been developed, it is time to select and test them according to the criteria that were set at the beginning.
Creative Brainstorming
In classic Osborne brainstorming, we start with the creative (green) phase, during which we generate ideas. We write them all down, and no one is evaluated at this stage. Then comes the incubation phase, and it is important that during this time the so-called belated idea box is functioning – this can be in the form of an electronic box or phone to which we transfer solutions, or a real box placed in an accessible place. It is recommended to do the second creative stage after the break, when we add new ideas to the previous ones.
And only after that the stage of evaluation by experts (red) begins. In the brainstorming phase, 90% of the ideas go to the wastebasket, 10% to think about, and only 1% – it will be a bullseye shot, but the saying is appropriate here that quantity turns into quality, because without these 90%, weak ideas would be brilliant solutions.
We take a break, then return to creative work and add more solutions before we start testing them.
Usually we are afraid to stop working if we are doing well. You need to convince yourself that the mind needs such a break. Yes, but in order for incubation to take place, that is, the birth of ideas, a preparatory phase is necessary. You need to know and understand the essence of the problem and collect all the necessary data.
What contributes to creative thinking?
A fundamental sense of security, relaxation and relaxation. If we are relaxed and in a good mood, our brain is more fertile, it is possible to enjoy it and have fun, and only then evaluate individual ideas. The environment also matters – creativity is supported by open, large spaces and the opportunity to work not only at the table.
Conversely, a poorly organized closed space or working in constant contact with others can block the creative process in some people, requiring concentration. Body position also plays a big role: the dreamer’s position is this (bent body, open posture, arms folded behind the head), the planner’s position is different (leaning on the table), and the critic’s position (closed position with clasped hands).
What prevents creative thinking?
Of course stress and fatigue. If you get nervous and act under the influence of strong emotions, the brain descends to the level of instinctive actions, during which it trusts the old, proven methods. Fear is also deadly to creativity.
Necessity is sometimes said to be the mother of invention, from which it can be deduced that if someone is afraid, he will generate more ideas. Nothing could be more wrong, employees driven by fear will try to survive rather than invent something new. To some extent, the enemy of creativity is also perfectionism, since it presupposes precision, accuracy, repetition, and a previously assumed state to achieve. There is research showing that perfectionists are also more cognitively withdrawn and prefer structures and repetitive sequences.
Is creativity a necessity?
There is a lot of talk about the need to think creatively. On the one hand, this is true, because the world is so changeable and unpredictable that inventiveness and flexibility are important, but on the other hand, many professions need repetition, routine, accuracy, accuracy.
Therefore, if someone finds himself in such a role and feels good in an environment where order prevails, he should not force himself to be someone else, because this will be to the detriment of himself and the environment in which he works. However, there are people who usually get tired and frustrated with the routine. It is worth checking whether there is room in their work for expression and generation of ideas. Inventing new things develops us, but having too many creatives in a group can be dangerous.
Creativity in some sense can be a curse?
Yes a little. But it all depends on what profession we are in. If we get paid to go from idea to idea, that’s great.
Connection of the need for creativity with the variability of the world. Does creativity make it easier to find yourself in today’s reality? Not really… Creativity opens up many different paths for us, and if someone lets go of their imagination and desire, they may experience great frustration because they will not be able to realize everything that they have come up with.
Therefore, it is also important to be able to let go of some things and close those that have already begun. These are personal competencies, which are partly the result of innate predisposition and partly acquired skills and are usually associated with the so-called “personal competencies”: mental stability and endurance, that is, the ability to cope with situations that unbalance.
How to stimulate your creativity?
There are several easy ways. You can create so-called mind maps or non-linear notes. In the middle of the sheet we write the main topic and distribute free associations throughout the sheet. Then we look for additional associations and connections between these concepts.
Graphs, drawings, games with analogies and metaphors also help to be creative. A chain method can work in a group, which consists in adding or changing one of the parameters to a given element and thus creating a completely new quality. A creative person is able to associate elements that others cannot.
Practical tips for developing creativity
Messy workplace
American researchers, Anna Mikulak of the Association for Psychological Sciences, and Joseph Redden and Ryan Rachinel of the University of Minnesota conducted a study that shows that working in a clean place supports traditional thinking, while a cluttered desk stimulates creativity and innovation.
Walking
