Developing Creativity
Module One: Getting Started Creativity and innovation will improve your chances of success in business and in life. Fortunately, there are steps that can be take to inspire you and develop your creative mindset. By changing the way that you think and overcoming your fear of risk, you will improve you creativity and change your life.
An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail. Edwin Land
Workshop Objectives
Define creativity
Engage in curiosity
Take risks
Module Two: What Is Creativity? There are different types of creativity, which makes it difficult to define. People often limit their definitions of creativity to art, but this is too limiting. Creativity comes in the form of original thought, divergent thinking, problem solving, inspiration, and imagination.
Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way. Edward de Bono
Divergent Thinking Spontaneous
Multiple options
Brainstorming
Imagination activities
Problem Solving Do not make assumptions Be open to different options Look at the big picture Keep looking
Imagination and Inspiration New experiences Read Daydream and meditate
Something Out of Nothing
Imagination Inspiration No single method
Case Study Steve was a logical person who prided himself on his problem solving skills He focused on the convergent thinking
A manager challenged them to apply creative problem solving
Steve was unimpressed with the idea
Module Two: Review Questions 1.Which of the following thinking is analytical? a)Engaging b)Divergent c)Creative d)Convergent 2.Which of the following thought process is focused on finding different answer choices? a)Engaging b)Divergent c) Creative d)Convergent
Module Two: Review Questions 3.What is often incorrectly assumed? a)Similar problems share a solution b)Problems are unique c) The solution is easy to find d)All of the above 4.What do you need to look at when problem solving? a)In house b)It does not matter c) The big picture d)None of the above
Module Two: Review Questions 5.What is Not a way to improve imagination? a)Read stories b)Creativity c) Rest d)Daydream 6.What prompts creativity? a)Imagination b)Nothing c) Everything d)Inspiration
Module Two: Review Questions 7.What do we value? a)Originality b)Change c) Inspiration d)All of the above 8.In which setting can you create something new? a)Science b)Art c) Office d)All of the above
Module Two: Review Questions 9.What best describes Steve? a)Logical b)Creative c) Playful d)Imaginative 10.What did creative problem solving help increase? a)Happiness b)Sales c) Productivity d)Closures
Module Two: Review Questions 1.Which of the following thinking is analytical? a)Engaging b)Divergent c)Creative d)Convergent Convergent thought is traditional analytical thought that looks for the correct answer. Divergent thought looks for the multiple answers. 2.Which of the following thought process is focused on finding different answer choices? a)Engaging b)Divergent c) Creative d)Convergent Convergent thought is traditional analytical thought that looks for the correct answer. Divergent thought looks for the multiple answers.
Module Two: Review Questions 3.What is often incorrectly assumed? a)Similar problems share a solution b)Problems are unique c) The solution is easy to find d)All of the above In problem solving, it is easy to assume that similar problems all have the same solution. This is an incorrect assumption. 4.What do you need to look at when problem solving? a)In house b)It does not matter c) The big picture d)None of the above Problem solving requires looking at the big picture. This is done in addition to being open-minded and viewing the problem in different ways.
Module Two: Review Questions 5.What is Not a way to improve imagination? a)Read stories b)Creativity c) Rest d)Daydream Imagination is important to creativity. The other answers are useful for empowering imagination. 6.What prompts creativity? a)Imagination b)Nothing c) Everything d)Inspiration Inspiration prompts creativity. It provides motivation to people who feel like they should create something.
Module Two: Review Questions 7.What do we value? a)Originality b)Change c) Inspiration d)All of the above Creativity is thinking of something new. This is why we value originality. 8.In which setting can you create something new? a)Science b)Art c) Office d)All of the above It is possible to be creative in any setting. The correct answer is all of the above.
Module Two: Review Questions 9.What best describes Steve? a)Logical b)Creative c) Playful d)Imaginative Steve is a logical and analytical individual. He was a convergent thinker. 10.What did creative problem solving help increase? a)Happiness b)Sales c) Productivity d)Closures As Steve learned creative problem solving, he began to increase his productivity.
Module Three: Getting Inspired Motivation and inspiration go hand in hand. When you are inspired, you increase your level of creativity. You should not simply wait for inspiration to find you. You need to get in touch with what you are passionate about and what inspires you.
Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity because if you’re passionate about something, then you’re more willing to take risks. Yo-Yo Ma
Introspection
Self-examination In tune with feelings Journaling and meditation
Read More Stimulates thinking Include fictional works At least 15 minutes a day
Removing the Mental Block
A change of scenery
Meditate
Busy work
Exercise
Art Inspires Art
Art that speaks to you Immerse yourself Art is inspirational
Case Study Alice had difficulty finding inspiration for her new project She was constantly distracted
A friend suggested that Alice go to the park
She was able to address her own thoughts and feelings and refocus on the task at hand
Module Three: Review Questions 1.What does journaling improve? a)Introspection b)Creativity c)Inspiration d)All of the above 2.Introspection helps identify _______. a)Creativity b)Understanding c) Inspiration d)Relationships
Module Three: Review Questions 3.Which type of reading material connects with the imagination? a)All of them b)Fiction c) Non fiction d)Biography 4.What is true of reading goals? a)Must be followed b)Must be approved c) Must be original d)Must be realistic
Module Three: Review Questions 5.What removes mental blocks? a)Interest b)Distraction c) Time d)Effort 6.What is not a useful method of removing a mental block? a)Read b)Busy work c) Exercise d)Work
Module Three: Review Questions 7.Art must speak on which level? a)Personal b)Collective c) Creative d)None of the above 8.How should you respond when you find inspiring art? a)Look for more b)Remember it c) Immerse yourself d)None of the above
Module Three: Review Questions 9.Where did she find introspection? a)Home b)Park c) Office d)Car 10.How did Alice view herself? a)Unimportant b)Important c) Success d)Failure
Module Three: Review Questions 1.What does journaling improve? a)Introspection b)Creativity c)Inspiration d)All of the above Introspection provides self-awareness. Journaling and meditation improve introspection. 2.Introspection helps identify _______. a)Creativity b)Understanding c) Inspiration d)Relationships Introspection provides understanding that identifies inspiration. This improves creative thinking.
Module Three: Review Questions 3.Which type of reading material connects with the imagination? a)All of them b)Fiction c) Non fiction d)Biography Fiction stories are necessary to engage the imagination. This helps improve creativity. 4.What is true of reading goals? a)Must be followed b)Must be approved c) Must be original d)Must be realistic Reading goals need to be realistic. Unrealistic goals will not be met.
Module Three: Review Questions 5.What removes mental blocks? a)Interest b)Distraction c) Time d)Effort Mental block affect everyone. Distractions will refocus attention. 6.What is not a useful method of removing a mental block? a)Read b)Busy work c) Exercise d)Work Distractions are needed to remove mental blocks. Working is not a distraction. The other answers are.
Module Three: Review Questions 7.Art must speak on which level? a)Personal b)Collective c) Creative d)None of the above Art is inspiring. For a piece of art to inspire creativity, it must speak to you on a personal level. 8.How should you respond when you find inspiring art? a)Look for more b)Remember it c) Immerse yourself d)None of the above When you find art that speaks to you, you need to immerse yourself in it. This will inspire creativity.
Module Three: Review Questions 9.Where did she find introspection? a)Home b)Park c) Office d)Car Alice went to the park to be alone with her thoughts. She found introspection at the park. 10.How did Alice view herself? a)Unimportant b)Important c) Success d)Failure Alice faced how she viewed herself. She believed she was a failure, which hindered her creativity.