THINK CREATIVELY
WHY IT MATTERS
There are many benefits that come with the modern business world, but it also brings problems, challenges, and opportunities that have never been faced before. Leaders can’t rely on a textbook to learn exactly what to do in every situation. To come out on top, leaders need to be able to see solutions that others can’t see, find answers they can’t find, create opportunities others don’t think to create, and overcome challenges that halt others in their tracks. Leaders who think creatively put themselves one step ahead by being the first to take hold of new opportunities and break free from limitations. Leaders who can’t think creatively are halted in their tracks by the problems and challenges that combine to blockade their growth and success.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that think creatively see the world differently than their peers. Instead of seeing the world as a place of limits, they see it as a place of possibilities. Instead of seeing problems, they see opportunities. They have an inherent belief that things will work out if they can just think creatively. They are driven by unending hope and optimism. They are creative because that is how they choose to see the world. They don’t believe creativity is something you are born with. They believe creativity is a discipline of the mind that can be mastered.
Leaders that think creatively have developed a creative process and approach for facing challenges and problems. They find data, ask hard questions, gather insights from others, and create and test hypothesis. They don’t settle for the first solution they find. They are always seeking for more.
Leaders that think creatively take time to visualize the future. They picture their world in five or ten years. They imagine what could or should be different. They erase current constraints to ask the questions “what if” or “why not?” They don’t limit or tie themselves to what is possible. Instead, they choose to look for what could be possible if someone could just figure it out.
Leaders that think creatively look at every issue from every angle. They want to understand problems at their core. They know the only way to think outside the box is to define what the box is. They are never short on questions to ask, believing each new question can spark a new thought or piece of the creative puzzle. They believe that information will always precede innovation.
Leaders that think creatively are willing to accept the risks of creativity. They know that not every idea will be a good one. They create an acceptance of risk taking that allows people to shed their fear of failure and replace it with the hope of success.
Leaders that think creatively look for creative ideas everywhere. They look for creativity from all levels of the organization, and reward it when they find it. They study other industries, believing that what is well established in one could be revolutionary to another.
Leaders that think creatively appreciate the lessons of the past. They know and value history. They know that sometimes lessons learned from other’s experiences could be breakthroughs in thinking when applied afresh.
BELIEFS
BEST PRACTICES
SELF-REFLECTION
WORDS OF CAUTION
PSYCHOMETRIC 360 QUESTIONS
There are many benefits that come with the modern business world, but it also brings problems, challenges, and opportunities that have never been faced before. Leaders can’t rely on a textbook to learn exactly what to do in every situation. To come out on top, leaders need to be able to see solutions that others can’t see, find answers they can’t find, create opportunities others don’t think to create, and overcome challenges that halt others in their tracks. Leaders who think creatively put themselves one step ahead by being the first to take hold of new opportunities and break free from limitations. Leaders who can’t think creatively are halted in their tracks by the problems and challenges that combine to blockade their growth and success.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that think creatively see the world differently than their peers. Instead of seeing the world as a place of limits, they see it as a place of possibilities. Instead of seeing problems, they see opportunities. They have an inherent belief that things will work out if they can just think creatively. They are driven by unending hope and optimism. They are creative because that is how they choose to see the world. They don’t believe creativity is something you are born with. They believe creativity is a discipline of the mind that can be mastered.
Leaders that think creatively have developed a creative process and approach for facing challenges and problems. They find data, ask hard questions, gather insights from others, and create and test hypothesis. They don’t settle for the first solution they find. They are always seeking for more.
Leaders that think creatively take time to visualize the future. They picture their world in five or ten years. They imagine what could or should be different. They erase current constraints to ask the questions “what if” or “why not?” They don’t limit or tie themselves to what is possible. Instead, they choose to look for what could be possible if someone could just figure it out.
Leaders that think creatively look at every issue from every angle. They want to understand problems at their core. They know the only way to think outside the box is to define what the box is. They are never short on questions to ask, believing each new question can spark a new thought or piece of the creative puzzle. They believe that information will always precede innovation.
Leaders that think creatively are willing to accept the risks of creativity. They know that not every idea will be a good one. They create an acceptance of risk taking that allows people to shed their fear of failure and replace it with the hope of success.
Leaders that think creatively look for creative ideas everywhere. They look for creativity from all levels of the organization, and reward it when they find it. They study other industries, believing that what is well established in one could be revolutionary to another.
Leaders that think creatively appreciate the lessons of the past. They know and value history. They know that sometimes lessons learned from other’s experiences could be breakthroughs in thinking when applied afresh.
BELIEFS
- Creativity is not something you are born with, or a gift that is reserved for a select few. Creativity can be learned.
- It is very rare that a creative moment will magically appear out of nowhere. Creativity, boiled down, is just hard work.
- Data drives creativity. If you want to ignite creativity get ahold of good data. Information will always precede a revelation.
- Creativity in an organization needs to be nurtured, applauded, and rewarded, not feared or constrained.
- Many times, creativity is taking something that is well known and looking at it and applying it in new ways.
- The great thing about creativity is that it can come from least likely of sources, so don’t hesitate to set your people free to dream.
- Don’t ever think that creativity is a rite of passage only available to a select few. Anyone can have a creative idea at any time.
- It isn’t long before a creative idea becomes the norm. When you have a creative idea, act on it as quickly as possible.
BEST PRACTICES
- Be on the lookout for the next big thing.
- Re-examine traditional ways of doing things.
- Embrace risk taking and experimentation.
- Value traditions, but don’t be afraid of change.
- Force yourself to think deeper and different.
- Be willing to let go and let the past be the past.
- Reward people for creative and new ideas.
- Don’t become enamored with today’s success.
- Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.
- Encourage others to think outside of the box.
- Make creativity a key organizational value.
- Question conventional thinking and approaches.
- Try to see the options others don’t see.
- Take time just to imagine what could be.
- Don’t be afraid to do things differently.
- Use brainstorming and other thinking tools.
- Surround yourself with creative thinkers.
- Ignore when people say something is impossible.
- See problems as good opportunities.
- Look at something from every possible angle.
- Go out on a limb to support a new idea.
- Don’t hesitate to be an early adopter.
SELF-REFLECTION
- Do I have a creative process I use, or do I think creativity just appears out of nowhere?
- Do I see creative thinking as a skill that can be learned, do I see it as a capability that someone does or doesn’t have?
- Do I dig deep until I reach the place of real ingenuity, or do I accept the first solution to problems that appear?
- Do I take time to think about what could be, or do I get stuck in the current reality and limits of what can be?
- Do I pause and examine challenges from every creative angle, or do I act too prematurely?
- Do I surround myself with people who are more creative than me, or do I limit my creative circle of influencers?
- Do I accept the risks that come with creativity, or do I let fear of the unknown stop creativity from thriving?
- Do I seek for the next “big thing,” or do I stay satisfied with keeping things how they are?
WORDS OF CAUTION
- Don’t get confused and think creativity is a goal in and of itself, when creativity is just a tool to produce tangible results.
- Don’t separate yourself from practical reality with ideas that are too abstract or impractical for real-life implementation.
- Don’t look past the obvious, and overcomplicate solving problems that could be solved through simple means.
PSYCHOMETRIC 360 QUESTIONS
- People sometimes see my ideas as a little crazy.
- Being creative takes effort.
- When faced with a problem, I purposely take the time to brainstorm.
- I have been told that I think outside the box.
- Even when things go well there is always room to improve.
- The future is more exciting than scary.