Creativity is something that many look beyond, but
creativity is one of the greatest qualities we can be lucky enough to have, but
many never allow their true creativity to be expressed.
creativity is one of the greatest qualities we can be lucky enough to have, but
many never allow their true creativity to be expressed.
Our ability to express our deepest feelings is at the core
of the importance of creativity. As humans we have a very strong need to
express ourselves and we're happiest when other people understand what we are
trying to get across to them.
of the importance of creativity. As humans we have a very strong need to
express ourselves and we're happiest when other people understand what we are
trying to get across to them.
We can all benefit from a boost to our creative juices. Those
who are truly creative don't copy what others do; instead, they may use
innovative ideas from others as a springboard to come up with a unique product
for themselves. They tend to distance themselves from the competition rather
than compete with them. If they see another company or person copying what they
do, they create something even better. Put simply, they are able to leverage
their creativity and innovative capabilities to attain success.
who are truly creative don't copy what others do; instead, they may use
innovative ideas from others as a springboard to come up with a unique product
for themselves. They tend to distance themselves from the competition rather
than compete with them. If they see another company or person copying what they
do, they create something even better. Put simply, they are able to leverage
their creativity and innovative capabilities to attain success.
So, would you like to be more creative than you
are right now? According to Daniel Burrus, CEO of research and consulting firm
Burrus Research, here are 10 ways you can accomplish just that.
are right now? According to Daniel Burrus, CEO of research and consulting firm
Burrus Research, here are 10 ways you can accomplish just that.
Sharpen your senses. Creative people have developed their ability
to observe and to use all of their senses, which can get dull over time. So, it's
time for you to sharpen the blade.
to observe and to use all of their senses, which can get dull over time. So, it's
time for you to sharpen the blade.
Read things you don't normally read. Innovation is based on
knowledge, therefore you need to always be expanding your knowledge.
knowledge, therefore you need to always be expanding your knowledge.
Defer judgement. Be careful about how you are perceiving things as
your perceptions can limit your reasoning.
your perceptions can limit your reasoning.
Practice guided imagery. This way you can visual see your concept
come to life.
come to life.
Take a break from your ideas. Let your ideas incubate by taking a
break from them. It can shift your mind to another place and help you be more creative.
break from them. It can shift your mind to another place and help you be more creative.
Experience as much as you can. Exposure puts more ideas into your
subconscious. Actively seek out new experiences to broaden your experience
portfolio.
subconscious. Actively seek out new experiences to broaden your experience
portfolio.
Treat patterns the problem. Recognizing a new pattern is very
useful, but be careful not to become part of it.
useful, but be careful not to become part of it.
Redefine the problem. 'Your problem is not the problem; there is
another problem. When you define the real problem, you can solve it and move
on.' If you had correctly defined the real problem, you would have solved it
long ago because all problems have solutions.
another problem. When you define the real problem, you can solve it and move
on.' If you had correctly defined the real problem, you would have solved it
long ago because all problems have solutions.
Look where others aren't looking. This will allow you to see what
others aren't seeing.
others aren't seeing.
Come up with ideas at the beginning. Many times we come up with
several ideas and start innovating, and then we come up with more ideas and
never get anything done. At some point you have to turn off the idea generation
part of the process and work on the execution part to bring a project to life.
several ideas and start innovating, and then we come up with more ideas and
never get anything done. At some point you have to turn off the idea generation
part of the process and work on the execution part to bring a project to life.
About the Author:
Amanda Ciccatelli, Social Media Strategist of the Marketing Division at IIR USA, has a background in digital and print
journalism, covering a variety of topics in business strategy, marketing, and
technology. Amanda is the Editor at Large for several of IIR's blogs
including Next Big Design, Customers 1st, and ProjectWorld and World Congress for Business
Analysts, and a regular
contributor to Front End of Innovation and The Market Research Event,.
She previously worked at Technology Marketing Corporation as a Web Editor where
she covered breaking news and feature stories in the technology industry. She
can be reached at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. Follow her at @AmandaCicc.
Amanda Ciccatelli, Social Media Strategist of the Marketing Division at IIR USA, has a background in digital and print
journalism, covering a variety of topics in business strategy, marketing, and
technology. Amanda is the Editor at Large for several of IIR's blogs
including Next Big Design, Customers 1st, and ProjectWorld and World Congress for Business
Analysts, and a regular
contributor to Front End of Innovation and The Market Research Event,.
She previously worked at Technology Marketing Corporation as a Web Editor where
she covered breaking news and feature stories in the technology industry. She
can be reached at aciccatelli@iirusa.com. Follow her at @AmandaCicc.
