- What is creativity?
- Fundamental elements to be creative
- Eliminating Prejudices: The Myths of Creativity
- How are creative people?
- Avoid critical judgment
- Intuition
- Think differently
- Self-efficacy
- Creativity process: 6 steps
- 1-Preparation
- 2-Start with a question
- 3-Search / Research
- 4-Term of the investigation and incubation
- 5-Moment «eureka»
- 6-Implement
- Ask for feedback
Creativity is a phenomenon in which someone creates something new and valuable. The created thing can be tangible - like an idea, scientific theory or musical composition - or a physical object - like an invention, literary work or a painting.
My intention with this article is that you learn how to be creative and innovative, the most important concepts to start a life of innovation and creation. Until now you may have considered yourself unimaginative or overly rational, but don't worry; creativity can be improved.
What is creativity?
First of all, you have to make it clear what creativity is. Different definitions can be given although they all refer to the same concept:
-The ability to generate original and novel solutions.
-Creative thinking (fluency, flexibility, originality) + affective elements (interest, motivation, values) + character (discipline, tenacity, audacity).
-Ability to think differently from what has already been thought.
-Ability to use imagination to produce original ideas that produce value.
Fundamental elements to be creative
When being creative, the first thing you are going to encounter is the negativity of the people around you and, probably, your own. To be creative, it is essential to have confidence, respect for yourself and not be afraid of what others will think when you express your ideas.
If you have an unimaginative, receptive and dependent attitude, you will destroy possibilities for creativity. Everything that has been invented, from airplanes to telephones to footwear, was once someone's idea.
Eliminating Prejudices: The Myths of Creativity
- Myth 1: Creativity only exists in geniuses. Reality: we all have potential and genetic creativity at birth and can develop it through the social and cultural environment.
- Myth 2: Creativity develops on its own in a stimulating environment. Reality: creativity needs to be cultivated and trained for it.
- Myth 3: Creativity cannot be taught. Reality: anyone can learn the creative process and implement the ideas derived from it.
- Myth 4: It depends on the job. Reality: in all areas of life we can innovate. From the kitchen (new recipes), cleaning (invention of the mop) or new technologies (ipad).
- Myth 5: It depends on the personality. Reality: it depends on the proper training, environment and attitude.
- Myth 6: It poses a risk. Reality: the risk is in the eyes of the beholder.
How are creative people?
There are certain personality characteristics that define creative people. Knowing them will help you model them and adopt those that you think can be adapted to your personality.
- Very curious, inhibited, radical.
- They generate many ideas.
- They have many questions and concerns.
- They take a lot of risks.
- Very broad fields of interests.
- Collectors of unusual things.
- Lateral thinking.
- Determination to succeed, tenacity.
- Sometimes messy.
- Perseverance, commitment to the task.
- Attracted by novelty and complexity.
- Great sense of humor (often unexpected, quirky, irreverent, inappropriate).
- Very self-aware and open to being irrational with himself.
- Intuitive / a lot of emotional sensitivity.
For me, the four fundamental and that best describe the creative person:
- Nonconformist, tolerates ambiguity, accepts chaos, is not interested in details.
- Described as "individualistic" he is not concerned about being classified as "different", internally concerned, restless, needs time to think.
- Think differently and admire by observing the world.
- You don't want to accept what the authority says without evaluating critically.
Avoid critical judgment
Only through an open attitude can creativity be fostered. In addition to your thoughts (for example the typical "What a silly idea or thousands of people have thought of it"), the people around us crush creative impulses. If it is difficult to combat our negativity, if a person who destructively criticizes our ideas joins in, creativity dies instantly.
Here are some eminent critical judgments to make you aware that critics are not always right:
Intuition
Intuition is not superstition. These are decisions that we make based on organized information and of which we are not aware.
For example: a firefighter who knows when a floor is going to collapse in a fire and senses that event seconds before it happens, allowing him to save himself. What has happened is that, from his experience, he has gathered information from the environment such as the heat in the room, the condition of the floor, the noise and other relevant information that has made him remember other situations in which the floor collapsed.
Intuition is not seen, it is felt and it is what is added to all the information gathered. Safe decisions cannot be made based on intuition because you will never be able to gather 100% of the information. Still, there is no right answer for everyone and to be successful with a creative idea you have to take risks and lose the fear of failure.
Think differently
You can have creative ideas in all areas of life, even in creations from everyday objects.
(Enric Bernat-Inventor of chupa chups).
Hellen Keller, famous deaf-mute American writer wrote:
Creativity expert Edward de Bono said:
Self-efficacy
Bandura calls self-efficacy the belief that we can get results from our actions and that we can get what we want.
Many people tend to think that they are rational or that they are creative and are pigeonholed into those adjectives, however creativity can be learned and there is an effective process for it. People are naturally creative.
With the rebirth, the individual was placed at the center of the universe, it began to think that creativity came from within the individual himself and that people are geniuses. However, making someone believe that it is a resource for creativity creates too high expectations and builds an inevitable ego.
In ancient Greece and Rome, people did not believe that creativity came from within the human being, but that creativity came, for unknown reasons, from external spirits. The Greeks called these spirits of creativity "demons." For example, Socrates believed that he had a demon that spoke to him. The Romans had the same idea but they called him "genius", a kind of entity that lived in the walls, went out and reached the artists.
What good was this? For example, they protected themselves from narcissism (not believing that the credit for each job was theirs) and from the pressure of always having to have good ideas. Creativity is something that is built, which also depends on your behavior, your environment, the people you surround yourself with and the culture in which you are immersed.
Creativity process: 6 steps
1-Preparation
It is based on preparing for the creativity process, working and being aware of the points discussed, getting used to different ways of thinking about solutions and escaping from the routine to see different ways to solve problems.
It is a time when you find yourself immersed in a problem, you open yourself to any option, even some that, in principle, are not related to it. In this phase it is very important to observe, listen and be open and receptive.
It is crucial at this stage:
-Avoid thinking about common ways to solve a problem.
For example, the rolling suitcase wasn't invented until 1970 by Bernard D. Sadow. Until then, no other way had been thought of to solve the problem of having to carry heavy suitcases.
-Avoid the voice of self-censorship. "This can't work", "Too difficult", "I just don't have the money to do it."
-Deal with frustration: periods of frustration are actually part of the creative process. It is inevitable to find moments when you feel that you are not moving forward and that you do not find ideas. "There is always darkness before dawn."
2-Start with a question
It begins with a question about how to solve a problem, situation or improve something.
At your job, at school, at the University. By asking yourself a question, you begin the process of finding a creative solution. In my opinion it is the most important step.
The questions are guides to follow a creative life and the most useful are the open ones, since they allow a new answer.
We adults are afraid to ask questions because we think that we are going to make a fool of ourselves or that we will pretend that we know little. But then how would we learn without asking?
You may have never heard the following questions, although the names are sure to ring a bell:
In his time these ideas were meaningless to others, however today we know that they marked an era. The next time you hear a question like this or ask yourself will you think the same way?
3-Search / Research
Research is something natural in the human being, like a child who asks everything or a baby who puts everything in his mouth. Be curious, try new things, experiment in the world, and gather information regarding the question to be answered.
It is about reflecting on all the relevant pieces and avoiding the rational mind, letting the thought related to the question to be solved flow. Think in a different way, look from another perspective, think metaphorically and visualize a solution to the problem.
4-Term of the investigation and incubation
The time comes when enough information has been gathered to solve the problem.
It's about digesting all the information and thoughts you've ever had. It is a passive phase in which your unconscious works more.
Throughout the day the mind is busy at school, the park, work, talking with friends, reading or watching TV. Any time you can relax is helpful to the creative process - a shower, a long drive, a quiet walk, your favorite activity. It is about simply allowing the mind to daydream.
5-Moment «eureka»
The eureka moment comes after hard work in the previous phases. It usually comes at times when we feel calm and "daydreaming", so it is important not to skip the previous phase.
6-Implement
It is about bringing the idea to reality and it is the most difficult step because you have to overcome the fear of failure and know how to turn it into something useful for yourself and for others.
It is often long and arduous. An important part is the diffusion and socialization of the creation to know what people think of your idea.
Actually the process is very fluid. One person may take longer in the implementation phase and another in the information search phase.
The phases are not fixed; They can be in a different order, although it is convenient that you be aware of the phase you are in because it will allow you to enter the process more frequently and perform the relevant actions.
Ask for feedback
As a complement to the implementation of the idea, you can ask for feedback from known or unknown people. This will help you to be aware of what can be improved or what you are overlooking.
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