“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” ~ Albert Einstein
In this quote, Einstein has very creatively defined creativity. Edward de Bono defined creativity as the ability to break out established patterns to look at things differently.
What exactly is creativity?
Paradoxically, we often tend to associate the word “creativity” with artistic endeavors and with certain professions such as film-making, design, architecture, writing, and art. However, you would agree that in most organizations, irrespective of the industry to which they belong, managers always want their employees to think creatively. In schools and colleges, students are encouraged to think out of the box.
One common way to look at creativity is that it is a way of thinking. Creativity is about being imaginative. It is about coming up with ideas to improve something or to create something new. As such, it is not restricted only to certain streams or profession.
“Creativity consists largely of rearranging what we know in order to find out what we do not know.” ~ George Kneller
Is creativity an intrinsic quality or can it be developed?
While it is true that some people, blessed with extraordinary talent are immensely creative, however, it is possible for each of us to inculcate and nurture the quality of creative thinking.
Let us look at how a person can boost his/her creative thinking
Diversifying experiences
“…diversifying experiences help people break their cognitive patterns and thus lead them to think more flexibly and creatively.”
– Finding from research published in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology,
Research has linked creativity to unusual, unexpected and diversifying experiences. Highly creative individuals often experience a disproportionate number of unusual and unexpected events or even adverse experiences which push them outside the realm of “normality.”
Diverse experiences broaden a person’s perspectives. Speaking many languages, living abroad, exposure to multicultural experiences influence can improve flexibility in thoughts and augment creative thinking. Pursuing a hobby that is entirely different from one’s profession can boost creativity. It is said that if you work as an engineer by day, reading some poetry every night before going to bed will enhance creativity.
Collectively, diverse teams are known to produce more creative results than teams in which all members are from a similar background. In many global organizations, significant innovations have been brought about by people who came from a different background because they brought in a different way of looking at things. Lou Gerstner at IBM and Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn were outsiders who became effective change agents.
Connecting the dots
Creativity involves seeing things from different perspectives and making connections where none are visible. We are conditioned to think in a particular way. To think creatively, we must be able to appreciate a new viewpoint or discard a limitation and look afresh at what we normally take for granted.
Establishing linkages where none are apparent, fuel creative thinking and give rise to new ideas. Applying an idea or a concept from some field to a similar situation in a different field can be effective in boosting creativity.
Identify the time when you are at your creative best
There are certain hours in a day when our mind is at its creative best. The creative energy peaks during certain times when the brain activity makes the creative connections. It helps to be aware of the time and reserve it for the most creative part of our work, leaving the routine or mundane work to be completed on other occasions.
Engage in stimulating discussions
Getting involved in discussions that stimulate your mind can spark off creativity. Scouting for ideas that light up your mind, building upon those ideas, or adding a different perspective to it, can enhance your creativity.
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on”
~ Albert Einstein
Identify other triggers that boost your creativity
Some environments, events, or activities trigger the release of an organic chemical called dopamine in our mind, which makes us feel relaxed. A relaxed mind is absolutely essential for creative insights. Creative ideas are often triggered while walking in a garden, exercising or while taking a warm shower because at such times we are generally in a relaxed state of mind, disengaged from the humdrum of the routine life and full of dopamine. Knowing the environment or the activities during which brain is most likely to give us our most creative idea. It can help us to capture those ideas whenever they occur.
