Creative thinking is thinking that looks way past the obvious. In creative thinking you look for things that at first are not so evident.
As usual, you might be wondering what does this have to do with Leadership? A lot!!! Leaders recognize and understand the importance of creativity in their environments. Great leaders nurture and foster creativity in their teams. That's why it's so important that leaders are creative themselves.
In the book Organizing Genius by Warren Bennis there's a quote that took my attention:
Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask a creative person how they did something, they may feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after awhile. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they've had more experiences or have thought more about their experiences than other people have.
–Steve Jobs
How to Become a Creative Thinker
Here is a list of skills you should work with to help you develop creative thinking:
1. Look at things from different perspectives. If you can look at a key, for example, and see it as something more than something to open doors with, then you are on your way to creative thinking. Play with the idea for a while, and you will find many uses for the key.
2. Look for improvements. If you can recognize things that are not quite perfect or that have the potential to be better, then you can be a creative thinker.
3. Be Persistent. Sometimes you need to weed through piles of information to get to the good stuff. If you can easily take a bunch of nonsense and make some sense out of it, then you're on your way to become a creative thinker. Bear in mind that creative thinking involves a lot of nonsense, don't feel too awkward about it. Being able to get to the heart of things is a true creative skill.
4. Stay committed. Creativity requires a lot of commitment. If you are the type of person who can commit to something and who does not give up, then you are a prime candidate to be a creative thinker.
I'm sure you have some of the skills of a creative thinker. Recognize that, but best of all, share that, share your
abilities with the rest of the world, and work on the one you lack of.
Leadership Actions
Practice every day all four actions to become more creative. YOU ARE CREATIVE, you need to practice that's all!!
Remember, Be Alert, Be A Leader
As usual, you might be wondering what does this have to do with Leadership? A lot!!! Leaders recognize and understand the importance of creativity in their environments. Great leaders nurture and foster creativity in their teams. That's why it's so important that leaders are creative themselves.
In the book Organizing Genius by Warren Bennis there's a quote that took my attention:
Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask a creative person how they did something, they may feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after awhile. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they've had more experiences or have thought more about their experiences than other people have.
–Steve Jobs
How to Become a Creative Thinker
Here is a list of skills you should work with to help you develop creative thinking:
1. Look at things from different perspectives. If you can look at a key, for example, and see it as something more than something to open doors with, then you are on your way to creative thinking. Play with the idea for a while, and you will find many uses for the key.
2. Look for improvements. If you can recognize things that are not quite perfect or that have the potential to be better, then you can be a creative thinker.
3. Be Persistent. Sometimes you need to weed through piles of information to get to the good stuff. If you can easily take a bunch of nonsense and make some sense out of it, then you're on your way to become a creative thinker. Bear in mind that creative thinking involves a lot of nonsense, don't feel too awkward about it. Being able to get to the heart of things is a true creative skill.
4. Stay committed. Creativity requires a lot of commitment. If you are the type of person who can commit to something and who does not give up, then you are a prime candidate to be a creative thinker.
I'm sure you have some of the skills of a creative thinker. Recognize that, but best of all, share that, share your
abilities with the rest of the world, and work on the one you lack of.
Leadership Actions
Practice every day all four actions to become more creative. YOU ARE CREATIVE, you need to practice that's all!!
Remember, Be Alert, Be A Leader
