Creativity Myths That Could Be Holding You Back
One of the most valuable skills in the workplace is creativity. Sadly, many working professionals are quick to discount their ability to be innovative. What I’ve learned from my time serving as a CEO is most of those individuals don’t realize what creativity actually constitutes. Lots of us equate creativity to artistic ability. And while artists are no doubt creative, so are scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, engineers, financial experts, business developers, marketers, human resource professionals, operations personnel, support staff, and many more individuals. Creativity is a mindset that anyone can adopt.
However, to start thinking creatively, you must first unlearn all the lies you’ve been conditioned to believe concerning what it means:
1. I Wasn’t Born Creative
I touched on this a moment ago, but just like any skill, creativity can be developed. As with other skills, some people are born being more adept at it than others. Just because you’re not athletic doesn’t mean you can never hit a ball, score a goal or make a touchdown. The same principle applies to creative thinking. It’s possibly true that you weren’t born with an incredibly creative mind, but that’s okay, your brain is forming new neural pathways every moment. With intentional effort, you can start paving new creative thinking pathways in your mind that will begin to fire and wire more and more efficiently with time.
2. I Don’t Know How to Be Creative
Many of us don’t know how to be creative when we first begin consciously trying, but more often, we fail to recognize when we show creativity. Have you ever been locked out of your room or house with no key and started to think through the other ways you could open the door? That’s creative thinking! Have you ever been cooking something when you tasted it at different intervals to think about what other spices or ingredients could elevate its flavor? That’s creative thinking! Have you ever been stuck in traffic and started to think about alternative routes? That’s creative thinking! Most of us are creative in some capacity every single day; we just don’t realize it.
3. It’s Too Hard to Be Creative
Creativity takes work, no doubt. That’s why it’s such an exemplary mindset to develop. Those who think creatively are opting out of the easy way, which would be to stick to the “tried and true” ways of doing things and acting out of habit instead of forethought. One of my favorite Albert Einstein quotes comes to mind: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting to see different results.” Next time you are faced with a problem in the workplace or are part of a group brainstorming session, put creativity to work by thinking of everything except what you’ve already tried in the past. Even put options on the list that you know you would not pursue, as sometimes just seeing that option in writing can lead your mind to another possibility. List the pros and cons of each option that you identify, as this can also lead to additional options.
This may be difficult at first, and that’s when a perspective change may be useful. Do some online research about the issue you’re facing to see how other people have tackled it. Interview coworkers and friends outside of work to see how they would approach the problem. You’d be surprised how often individuals unaffiliated with a situation can see it in a fresh and clear light. You can even get creative by thinking about how to stir your creativity! Some people need to go on walks, or go work out, or close their office door and listen to music. Do whatever you think may work for you, so long as you keep Einstein’s wise words top of mind.
If you aren’t feeling creative, do something different.
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