Why developing your CREATiViTY is important for your business

WORDS BY Leda Van Der Post The CREATiVE JOURNEY ledavanderpost.com

What do you think of when you hear the word creativity? Many people think immediately of artists—painters, sculptors and so on. That is, people often mix up being creative with being an artist. But the two are very different. Being good at drawing, painting, sculpting and the like is about being artistic. Creativity, or Creative Intelligence, is something else. It comes in many forms and does not necessarily have anything to do with art.

Creativity has been identified as one of the top soft skills required by organisations for future growth, and for solving the complex challenges and problems we face today.

Creativity is a mindset, or a way of thinking. It is something that we all have. Sternberg’s triarchic model of intelligence describes three aspects of intelligence: analytical, practical, and creative. Developing creative intelligence (CQ) requires a shift in thinking to develop a creative and growth mindset. These are some of the benefits for your business of developing CQ:

The ability to problem-solve from a space of creative thinking enables employees to generate new, innovative solutions in many areas.

Employees with higher CQ are more likely to use conflict to trigger useful debates and explore differences of opinion in a way that leads to innovation, as well as reducing conflict and tension

Creative projects and problem-solving increase involvement and commitment, leading to improved motivation

Being actively creative improves self-esteem and encourages employees to collaborate, leading to more effective teams that readily share knowledge for everyone’s benefit.

Engaging in creative processes and activities develops trust through employees getting to know each other better and building more open relationships.

Employees with high CQ become more comfortable with ambiguity, and are more easily able to see the opportunity presented by uncertainty and change.

While creativity does come more naturally to some people, you can develop your CQ and make thinking creatively a habit, or way of being.

And this opens up so many ways to access what you truly desire for your business and create a work environment more in alignment with your values and goals. ■

Do you need help with developing creative intelligence within your business?

The CREATiVE JOURNEY offers programs and workshops that use a unique nine-step process to work with you in a playful, yet focused way to build an ongoing practice of developing CQ so that it becomes a habitual way of thinking and being at work. You are welcome to book a complimentary Zoom chat via my website www.ledavanderpost.com or email me directly at leda@ledavanderpost.com