How to Be Creative

'HOW TO BE CREATIVE'

What is creativity?

Creativity is defined as having the ability to create, having or showing imagination or an ability to stimulate imagination.

Definition

'Creativity involves an ability to come up with some new and different viewpoints on a subject. It involves breaking down and restructuring our knowledge about the subject in order to gain new insights into its nature. However, any definition of creativity is complicated because the concept has many dimensions.' Proctor (1999:1)

Simplifying what is said in the above definition, it is difficult to solve problems by thinking in a direct approach. You need to think of the following abilities: -

Sensitivity (alertness) to problems

Fluency thinking of a idea

Flexibility ability to produce a varied mix of ideas

Originality of thinking uniqueness, novelty, newness, creativeness (new) or innovativeness (improvement of existing)

Ability to analyse and (in particular) synthesize information

Ability to 'redefine' things ('to transform the meaning or use or function of an object so as to give it a new role'). Proctor: J.P.Guilford (1999:36)

Creativity within business environment is developing a new product or service and looking for opportunities for economic growth. In managerial terms it is goals and objectives. Simple 'making out' in our everyday lives can be creative process, it is being an entrepreneur.

Definition of creativity refers to 3 S's, which means: -

SENSITIVITY- increases the awareness of lives, which associate with people, things and ideas that interact personally and socially between others and us.

SERENDIPITY- defined as the 'faculty of making happy chances found'

SYNERGY- this refers to phenomenon associated with system of people, things and ideas which are effective, useful and more significant that could not have be predicated#

Creativity is the ability to make connections between irrelevant and unrelated objects, ideas, information and events. So therefore, it is less orientated towards 'end product'. It provides us with a starting point for your search to find a way to the mental process of creativity.

Creativity is about exploring and inventing new ideas to improve customer lifestyle as well as improving profit margins. To achieve this you need to be open-minded and be aware of what is happening around us to achieve successfully.

Why is Creativity Important?

Managers in the public and private sectors are seeking the right people, those who can find solutions not problems. The importance of creativity in actions cannot state for what many of us lack is clear and effective thinking by creativity and imagination.

"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly." Henri Bergson

Example of creativity thinking: -

A young child is taught how to draw something, but this task was generated the opposite way which is indicated as 'that is not how we do it' approach from an adult. In another words, this thinking and producing ideas has become a new opportunity to explore the world whether it's right or wrong. Our society, culture and education system prepares to think creativity.

Can we learn to be creative?

We are born creative, it is what has made human-kind successful. What we need to learn is how and when to apply our creative nature and abilities. In business we need to have focused

creativity, which has time restrictions, otherwise creativity may as well result in nothing except interesting thought and conclusions.

We can learn techniques, which help us to be creative, innovative and productive, and from this process comes 'Effective Thinking'.

'The problems that we have created cannot be solved at the level of thinking that created them' Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Creativity methods

You have recognised that there is a problems

You want to solve this problem...

A number of techniques can be used to develop new ideas, evaluate opportunities, solve problems and develop plans. So whenever we use the word "problem" it means either a problem or an opportunity.

"There are no problems - only opportunities to be creative." Dorye Roettger#

Every business is affected by new problems (or opportunities). To overcome these challenges, you need to achieve some skills to be success in your business. They are the following: -

Technique 1

you need to be AWARE that a problem or opportunity exists before you can actually take steps to creatively solve it or take advantage of it. Often we are aware of symptoms rather than the actual problem itself.

Technique 2

collect your information carefully, talk to the people who actually are experiencing the problem or can answer your questions about the opportunity. For example if it's a problem with a machine then talk to the person who operates it or maintains it, they will know what has goes wrong, how often, how much time is lost due to failures, who the problem is reported to, how long it takes to fix etc.

BRAINSTORMING

This is very good way of starting to solve a problem, as you are generating all your ideas how ever 'silly' they sound. This technique helps gather information, which then can be developed further, into a better idea. So therefore there is now right or wrong suggestion.

SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis reveals your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It is a good way of summarising your position in each key market segment via competitors.

Strengths (S)

S1