Everyday ways to spark creativity in business
Some people are creative and some people aren't creative.
This is a statement that many people firmly believe.
But is it true?
I think creativity is a facet of how we interact with the world. Some people are more creative than other people. This doesn't mean that some people simply aren't creative. Think of creativity or cleverness as a virtual muscle that needs to be used to develop.
Like many physical pursuits such as weight training, jogging, and fitness walking, one needs to practice and slowly build up competence. With good practice comes good performance.
Creativity is the same. Once you practice creative activities you will find the process of creating ideas easier and easier.
Maya Angelou once famously said: "You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have." She was right.
Think of creativity as a virtual well you can turn to and always find reward.
People often ask me how to develop their creativity. My answer is simple. First, be open to the creative process. By this I mean, embrace a mindset where new ideas or possibilities are welcome and where you are open to considering them no matter how fanciful they are or how seemingly unrealistic they might be.
Second, avoid judging new ideas. It is important when developing a creative mindset that you don't reject ideas too soon. Don't worry about "good ideas" or "bad ideas," just focus on generating ideas.
Third, pursue some neutral or relaxing activities that interrupt your typical thought stream.
This third idea is one that sometimes confounds people, especially very hardworking, driven people with intense schedules like doctors, lawyers and consultants. For people who have highly structured schedules plan some quiet, less planned time.
The types of activities that might privately allow new, creative ideas to bubble up are often unexpected. Some things I suggest clients do when they wish to warm up their creativity center: go for a drive with no destination, fold laundry in the middle of the day, listen to a podcast focused on an unfamiliar topic, go for a walk, putter around your space and pull weeds, water plants, organize a junk drawer and think about the creative question you have in mind while doing these activities.
The nonlinear quality of these pursuits allows your brain to experience your thoughts differently.
And, when you are trying these types of loose-focus activities, keep a notepad and pen handy. When new ideas start to emerge, and they will, be sure to jot them down. Stay analog and write your ideas.
The experience is very different from when we jot digital notes. Our brains welcome these quiet moments where we allow ourselves to literally dream a little and contemplate what could be.
Creativity exercises such as I am suggesting are fantastic for times when you, the small business owner, need to think about marketing, communications or new ways of presenting your products or services. All people have the potential to be very creative but not all people allow themselves the space and time to engage in creative activities.
Even activities like cooking something unfamiliar, exploring an unfamiliar neighborhood on a walk, doodling, painting or organizing a small area of your office or home can stimulate new ideas. Use these moments to think more deeply about your most pressing marketing and communications needs. You may be very surprised and pleased to discover how much creativity you have.
• Rebecca Hoffman is the founder and principal of Good Egg Concepts, a strategic communication and brand marketing consulting practice serving clients around Chicagoland and nationally.