6 Ways To Maximize Creativity When You Don’t Think You’re Creative
Amy Blaschka
Professional Image Consultant & Social Media Ghostwriter | I help leaders elevate their presence in person and online to communicate and connect better, magnifying their impact. | Forbes Leadership Contributor
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When we think of those who possess creativity, we tend to default to the obvious choices — artists, musicians, and writers — and quickly dismiss others.
Far too many people are under the incorrect assumption that they have to be a “creative†to be creative. But creativity in the workplace isn’t limited to those with design degrees.
Everyone can — and should aspire to — be more creative.
Creativity is the ability to perceive the world in new ways, find hidden patterns, make connections between seemingly disparate things, and generate innovative solutions. When you’re creative, you’re able to turn new and imaginative ideas into reality.
This soft skill is highly valuable no matter your industry or field and simply requires adjusting your mindset to see the possibilities and allowing your curiosity to take over.
Here are six ways to maximize your creativity when you think you’re not creative:
1. Lead with curiosity
As a writer, my curiosity fuels my creativity about content ideas but also carries over into other parts of my world. When you’re genuinely curious about others, the way the world works, and what’s possible, you’ll find yourself asking questions like “What if?†and “Why not?†Leading with curiosity can help you reframe established processes and products and create an environment that fosters big ideas. It challenges conventional thinking and helps you arrive at solutions you may not have considered if you hadn’t questioned the status quo. Curiosity is an excellent antidote to “but we’ve always done it this way†thinking.
2. Be open-minded
The biggest creativity killer is a closed or fixed mindset. Challenge yourself to consider new ideas from unfamiliar sources. Engage in discussions with people who don’t share your views or background. Seek out unusual experiences. When you open your mind to the cross-pollination of what’s beyond your status quo, you make room for innovation and discovery.
3. Practice intentional daydreaming
In a world where external demands and a cacophony of noise bombard us, taking the time to turn inward and think deeply is a must for creativity. And research supports letting your mind wander to boost your creative juices. People who reported more frequent daydreaming during the day scored higher on creative and intellectual tests. Plus, building in free time means your brain is more relaxed, which is conducive to creativity.
4. Adopt a connect-the-dots perspective
Steve Jobs likened creativity to one’s ability to connect things, and Henry David Thoreau famously said, “It’s not what you look at that matters; it’s what you see.†When you tap into your awareness, you notice details other people miss. Creative people use all of their senses and are incredibly observant. They play connect-the-dots with ideas and thoughts, adopting a unique perspective to envision what’s possible, making them the in-demand innovators and creative thinkers companies and clients most value.
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5. Understand that quantity often leads to quality
As you embrace your creativity, the natural consequence will be many ideas. Some of these will be great, some will be mediocre, and some might even fail miserably. But a creative person doesn’t dwell on the clunkers; they view them as fuel to spur their continuous creative thinking. So rather than self-censoring, allow yourself the freedom to produce as many new ideas as possible without fear, so you’ll up your chances of creating something no one has thought of before.
6. Don’t forget to have fun
One of the best things about creativity is that inspiration strikes when you least expect it. Your next great idea is likely to come when you’re relaxed and at play, so stressing yourself out trying to “be creative†won’t help. Instead, cut yourself some slack and consider my favorite way to think about cultivating creativity, from creative genius Albert Einstein: “Creativity is intelligence having fun.â€
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Great thoughts Amy Blaschka! We agree and dont think you need to be classed as a 'creative' to be creative. In fact we have designed an interactive AI-driven tool that digitises creative techniques to enable you to come up with lots of different ideas, make lateral un-biassed connections quickly, and analyses topics to help you see the broad picture. Introducing the FlowCreate Innovator! www.neurocreate.co.uk/team Please do check it out, and let us know your feedback!
Love the advice, especially ending in "Don't forget to have fun". The part that helped me the most and changed my perspective is Quantity leads to Quality. At face value I was suspicious but reading the advice to produce as many ideas without fear will help me and anyone who takes this approach.
Do you have other specific activities that you know of that work to build creativity? I like the daydreaming and connect the dots. I have often said it is hard to connect dots forward, but you can see the pathway when you look backwards and you can see how each dot has contributed to your life path and personal and professional development.
Very well said 🙂