“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.”
-Albert Einstein
Finding creative solutions to our problems and in our work is essential to being successful in any business. However, most businesses do not train employees how to think creatively, and very few organizations use the creative problem-solving approach to running meetings, tackling challenges, developing products, or delivering services.
The creative problem solving process includes properly identifying the challenge or desire, generating many ideas and options, and strengthening solutions for a plan of action.
Ask yourself: Are you creative? What’s your immediate answer? If you said no, why did you say that? What is your definition of “creative?”
Too often, we think of creativity narrowly defined, as in the way that an artist or a musician is creative. However, creativity not limited to artistic or aesthetic endeavors or outcomes. Creativity is… the production of new and useful ideas.
As we reframe our preconceived ideas about creativity, we begin to understand that creativity can be applied in a variety of mental activities, and this includes creative thinking. We know that creative thinking skills can be taught, and the creative thinking process can help us find our own valuable contributions to solving problems.
Now, rephrase the question: How are you creative? In what ways do you wish you were more creative in your thinking or at work? How can you use new or useful ideas at work? Once we open ourselves to this definition of creativity, we can embrace our own powers and experience renewed energy about our work.
Many of us yearn for creative expression or desire the stress relief that creative outlets can provide. If we can find ways to build in creativity to our work and expand our definition of what creativity is, we can be more satisfied and productive in our personal and professional endeavors.
Toni Halleen is President and Founder of Fun with Law. She has been teaching and training professionals since 1989, during which time she has also been an improvisation performer. She has combined her talents into a new approach to professional development. Toni’s “Think on The Spot”™ seminars are presented across the country, and are designed to build listening, thinking, communication, team-building, and presentation skills for professionals. Working with organizations, Toni makes training more fun and engaging, and also works as a communications coach to help individuals and teams to be more effective under pressure.