How can I boost my creative thinking in business? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
Answer by Charlene Walters, PhD Business Mentor, Consultant, Corporate Trainer & Author, on Quora:
“Creativity and innovation are related, but there is a distinction between the two. Creativity is being able to see brand-new ideas or the connection between two things that are unrelated, whereas innovation is about transforming these ideas into products or processes. Creativity involves ideas, and innovation involves execution.
To become more creative, we just need to practice: it’s like exercise, where we must build those creativity muscles to get stronger. Yup, another workout for you. The more we keep trying, the more creative we’ll become, and creativity is vital for modern business owners.
Follow Best Practices. There are some best practices that you can leverage for bolstering creativity. Why not try to take a new route somewhere instead of continuing on the same one that you follow every day? Is there a business or store that you pass by all the time that you are curious about? Why not pop in? Find a really, really, bad idea and then pick out the best parts of it. Start over with some task that you do all the time, and find a unique way to approach it like it was your first day on the job. Think about it like dissembling something and then putting it together in a fresh way!
When working at your startup or formulating something original, if you take a break for a while and get some air or do something else, it will give you a lift. Set aside 30 minutes every day for creativity: you can paint, play piano, draw, or do some writing. This will tap into the creative part of your brain. If you’re journaling or daydreaming, just let your ideas flow.
Learning new skills can help, too: why not take classes, attend webinars, and read? I know there is something you’ve always been dying to learn how to do—maybe skydiving or learning another language. The sky’s the limit, and you can even jump from it if you want while speaking French on the way down. I’ve gone indoor skydiving a few times, and I love it: it forces me to think totally differently, so maybe that is something that you can try, too. And it’s so much fun: whirling around in the air like that!
Stay Healthy. When it comes to your creativity, being healthy is a must. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep because the more rest you get, the more creative you’ll be. Drink lots of water as well, because water keeps you from feeling sluggish and improves brain function. Put an emphasis on incorporating breaks throughout your day and discover methods to relax, as stress inhibits creativity, so include downtime in your schedule because that’s when your inspiration builds up. It can also help to eat healthier by making good choices like salads, fruits, and vegetables (it’s good for you as well, so bring on the broccoli).
Write It Down. Make it a point to also write more: this practice boosts your creativity and also helps establish you as an expert. Choose subjects that are outside of your wheelhouse as you’ll have to do research, you’ll learn more, and you’ll also have to come up with a creative way to present your ideas. Write an article about something that you don’t know about or journal at random without a particular focus.
Change the Ambiance. Sometimes all it takes to become more creative is to change the atmosphere and mix it up. When you are in a different location, you are out of your comfort zone. If you work at home, perhaps you can sit outdoors or at a safe co-working space. I used to hit a French bakery here in town with extensive seating and good Wi-Fi to challenge my status quo (although I had to refrain from eating too many macaroons). Now, it is often just as simple as moving into a different room in my home.
Turn on some music for a change, as music can frustrate your logical thinking—rap, jazz, pop, whatever you’re into. Write out your ideas with a pen and paper and get in there and use your hands. You can also isolate yourself so that you can think more clearly. Ensure that the process, whichever you settle on, is fun by making it a game. Laugh it up, too: laughter is good for getting those creative juices flowing.
You can even take things a step further and set up an inspirational spot in your startup or your home—think reading corner, she-shed, or creativity room. Although the she-shed didn’t work out so well for Cheryl (it burnt down in the State Farm commercial), I’ve always wanted one, don’t you?
Above all else, give yourself some time to chill: play ping pong, take a breather, or go for a stroll. You can also move where you sit: even relocating across the room will give you the change in perspective you need. Let your mind wander: daydream and see where your thoughts take you. When you give your brain a rest, a creative idea will often come to you subconsciously.
Brainstorm. As a startup maven, you want to keep pushing the edges and become more inspired all the time. Dedicate some time specifically each day for brainstorming by finding a method for generating ideas, and make that a part of your routine. Reward yourself and others, too, for being creative. If you come up with a great idea, or someone else on your team does, treat them or yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything big but enough to stimulate you to produce more ideas. Did someone say chocolate Frappuccino? Give a bonus for brilliance and for thinking outside of the box (even if it’s just to yourself).
Stay Optimistic & Play Games. Staying hopeful stimulates inspiration, so endeavor to look on the bright side and work on an attitude adjustment if necessary. There are also some creative thinking exercises that you can do daily: incorporate them and other brainstorming activities into your routine. Remember those drawing pages where the picture is half complete and you must finish it? Pick exercises like that which are fun to do.
Other best practices include taking two unrelated subjects and finding a way to tie them together. Like oranges and snails, or butterflies and baseball. How can you connect them? There’s always a way. When in doubt, draw it out: go up to a white board and doodle. You can also perform word association games. If I say “successful,” you say?? Why, you, of course!
Develop a plan for how you’ll incorporate some creative activity into your schedule. Also, decide how you’ll add more writing (think thought leadership pieces or reflective journaling) into your norm—you’ll become a more disruptive and innovative leader as a result.”
Did you enjoy this excerpt from my book? Read more in my book Launch Your Inner Entrepreneur (McGraw Hill, 2021)
This question originally appeared on Quora – the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
