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Few things are as satisfying as an epiphanic moment of inspiration. When you have a fresh creative idea, you may feel bright and unstoppable.
However, it’s simple to get disheartened and claim that you’re just not a creative thinker when the good ideas stop coming.
Many people consider that creative thinking is a random phenomenon. Even if you don’t believe you have intrinsic creativity. There are many methods to apply creative problem-solving every day in reality. Creativity is not difficult, but it does require practice.
Being more innovative requires developing your creative abilities. But where do you even begin?
We’ll discuss what creative thinking is, how it functions, and how to develop your creative ability in this post.
What exactly is creative thought?
It may seem as though only “creative people” possess the superpower of innovative thought. Thankfully, unique ideas aren’t just the domain of creative geniuses.
At its foundation, creative thinking is the deliberate acquisition of fresh perspectives and novel ideas from previously known information.
Creative thinking frequently entails utilizing a variety of thought processes and looking at data from many angles to uncover novel patterns. With some effort, everyone can develop their creative faculties!
You can find fresh approaches to problems in all aspects of your life, including at work. By utilizing a wide range of brainstorming techniques.
In reality, 61% of workers claim that they are expected to think up original solutions or novel ways to accomplish tasks at work. But with only 30% of employees reporting that they are given time to consider or discuss new ideas on a regular basis. It is crucial that we strengthen our capacity for creative thought.
Creative thinking styles
Changing your perspective is the first step in fostering creative thinking. Strong idea generation can be aided by becoming familiar with novel and unconventional ways of thinking.
There are five sorts of innovative thinking to get things started: aesthetic thinking, divergent thinking, lateral thinking, convergent thinking, and inspiring thinking.
The most typical techniques for encouraging more creative ideas are divergent and convergent thinking.
Similar to a regular brainstorming session, divergent thinking involves coming up with as many potential answers as your imagination will allow.
Convergent thinking, on the other hand, adopts a more logical approach. Pushing you to gather information and identify the most typical answer to a problem. These techniques are commonly used to generate original new solutions.
While lateral thinking entails letting ideas flow in a step-by-step approach. Inspirational thinking concentrates on picturing the best-case scenarios to create a fresh solution to address an issue.
Looking at a painting as an example, aesthetic thinking focuses on re-framing the issue to reveal its intrinsic value and beauty.
Why is it vital to think creatively?
Particularly at work, it’s simple to get into the same cognitive patterns. However, same mental habits can be impeding your creativity and keeping you in unhelpful routines.
Every problem has multiple answers, as demonstrated by creative thinking. And honing your creative thinking abilities will make it easier for you to spot novel alternatives more rapidly.
Additionally, creativity was the most in-demand soft talent in 2020. Thus improving your creative abilities can also help you stand out at work.
Creative thinking is essential to assist detect patterns that might not be apparent at first inspection, together with critical thinking and focus. Thinking creatively improves your problem-solving skills, which offers significant advantages in both your professional and personal life.
We can test our own beliefs, learn new things about ourselves and our perspective, maintain mental acuity. And even become more hopeful with the aid of expressive, creative thinking.
How to think creatively
Since 53% of firms say that invention happens by chance, many business leaders view creativity and innovation as unexpected phenomena. However, you can access creative thinking whenever you want if you have the correct tools.
There are various ways to spark your imagination, and applying creative thinking techniques can make it easier and more frequent for you to think creatively.
Curiosity is the fuel that makes creative thought effective. For various industries, becoming intrigued about a topic takes on different forms.
The advertising executive coming up with innovative ideas through brainstorming and divergent thinking may be a standard illustration of creative thinking. But there are many other ways to apply creative thinking.
In STEM fields like biomedicine, encouraging creativity through open-ended questioning and making up hypothetical situations aids specialists in coming up with fresh answers to health issues.
These queries inspire medical practitioners to experiment and find novel approaches to a vexing issue.
Any professional can find original solutions to urgent situations through creative thinking.
The advantages of creativity
You become a better parent, student, leader, and employee when you are able to think creatively. The advantages of creative thinking can be experienced throughout your daily life by honing your creative thinking abilities.
Improved capacity for problem-solving
We shouldn’t limit our usage of creative thinking to the workplace just as we shouldn’t limit how we solve challenges at work. Your ability to think creatively will enable you to find solutions to many difficulties more quickly.
You’ll quickly become aware of patterns that you might not have previously seen as your mind becomes more accustomed to using various thought processes.
Stronger relationships with others
Clearer communication of your thoughts can lead to better interactions and connections with your friends, family, and coworkers.
An increase in productivity
Contrary to what would appear, thinking creatively does not require a lot of time or require you to put your work on hold.
When we are mired in mental patterns, it is simple to become irate when something doesn’t function as it should. Our productivity may suffer as a result of that frustration.
Spending some time using a creative thinking technique when you’re stuck will help you come up with new answers and rekindle your passion.
Increased self-awareness
You can try on viewpoints that you might not have previously thought of through the use of creative thinking.
As you examine several viewpoints, you can learn something about your own presumptions, opinions, or biases that you were previously unaware of.
Higher self-awareness and the development of emotional intelligence are two benefits of challenging your conventional ways of thinking. By exercising creative thinking, you can better reframe your viewpoint and cultivate a growth mindset.
Why is Creativity Important and What Does it Contribute?