How to -- Stimulate Innovation In business, creativity is closely associated with innovation, which is taking something and changing it into something else. And when you have the power to transform (manipulation) information to ideas, then that is creativity.

So then -- what is creativity? Is it when a lightening bolt hits out of the blue? A gut feeling that comes up with a new “something?” Magic?? And how can you get more of it?!

The left side of our brain handles language, numerical skills, logic, analysis and reasoning the right side handles music, three dimensional forms, art, insight and imagination. Using both sides of our brain is essential to stimulating our creative juices. The goal is to jolt the mind into seeing things differently than how we usually view the world.

Innovative thinking is accompanied by energy. It does not occur in a vacuum and in an unfolding process that requires openness. Usually unplanned it is a process of discovery. And there are things we can do to stimulate and encourage the process.

Think about both the tangibles and intangibles of business: a new product or service; a new approach or method, a new perspective or some new information. Try to suspend judgment and ask how someone NOT in your shoes might see things. What sort of questions would a person in another department ask? How would a parent see it?

Reasons we are NOT innovative?

We want to get the one right answer first.
We solve problems sequentially
We look for patterns
We eliminate possibilities
We rush to judgment
We eliminate contrary ideas.

Strategies to be MORE Creative

· Suspend judgment
· Find another perspective
· Be more aware of possibilities
· Seek data outside of your personal experience
· Generate many answers
· Foster foresight – ask ‘what if?”
· Challenge assumptions.

Labels: business, Creativity, innovation

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