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Thinking Creatively in a World of Normality

The world is a place of normality. It’s the place where we go to school, work, and come home to our families. We see the same people every day and do the same things. We are used to doing things in a certain way and we don’t question it. But what if we were to […]

Phil McKinney
Phil McKinney
11 min read
a group thinking creatively
a group thinking creatively in a brainsotrming session

The world is a place of normality. It's the place where we go to school, work, and come home to our families. We see the same people every day and do the same things. We are used to doing things in a certain way and we don't question it. But what if we were to think creatively in this world of normality? What would that look like?

We would probably question a lot of things that we take for granted. We would ask why things are done the way they are and whether there might be a better way to do them. We would look at the world and see it in a new light.

We would also be more open to new ideas and willing to try new things. We would be less afraid of change and more willing to embrace it. We would be more curious and passionate about life.

In short, being a creative thinker in a world of normality would make us more interesting and exciting people. It would also make the world a more interesting and exciting place.

My Struggles With Normality

As I sit here in my chair, looking at the computer screen in front of me, I can't help but feel like I'm in a rut. COVID has forced many of us into the trap of daily routines. I'm tired of it.

It's so hard to break out of the routine.

But maybe, just maybe, if we all put the past behind us and go back to thinking creatively, we can find a way out of this rut. Maybe we can make my life more exciting. Maybe we can make the world a more interesting place.

Creative Thinking

Creative thinking means looking at the world in a new way and seeing the potential in everything. It means being open to new ideas and willing to try new things. It means being curious and passionate about life.

Creative thinking allows us to see the possibilities in everything and to come up with innovative solutions to problems. It allows us to see the world in a new light and find beauty in everyday life.

Creative thinking is about more than just having good ideas. It's also about being able to turn those ideas into reality. To do that, you need to be able to think outside the box and see things from a different perspective. You need to be open to change and willing to experiment.

Is Thinking Creatively Important?

Creative thinking allows us to see the world in a new light and to find beauty in the everyday. Creative thinking is about more than just having good ideas.

Some people might say that thinking creatively is not important beyond our careers because it doesn't have a practical application. However, that's not true. Creative thinking can help us generate creative ideas that solve problems in our everyday lives. It can also help us find new and better ways to do things.

Whether you're trying to solve a problem at work or come up with a new way to have fun with the family, creative thinking is the key. So don't be afraid to think outside the box and experiment. The world needs more creative thinkers!

What Prevents Us From Thinking Creatively?

There are several things that can prevent us from thinking creatively. Some of the most common ones are fear of change, fear of failure, and lack of creativity.

Fear of Change

Fear of change is one of the biggest inhibitors of creativity. We're afraid to try new things because we worry about the what-if. We're afraid to experiment because we might not like the results. This fear can hold us back from doing a lot of things in life, including thinking creatively.

Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is another enormous obstacle to creativity. We're so worried about failing that we don't even try to think outside the box. We stick with what we know and we don't take risks. This fear can prevent us from achieving our full potential.

Perceived Lack of Creative Skills

How we see ourselves can hold us back. We might not think we're creative because we don't believe our ideas are any good. Or we might not think we're creative because we've done nothing creative before. Whatever the reason, our belief that we lack creative thinking skills can prevent us from thinking creatively.

What Do We Mean By Normality?

In the context of creative thinking, normality refers to the status quo, or what is considered normal or standard. When we think within the bounds of normality, we're limited by our preconceived notions and our comfort zones. We're afraid to try new things because we might not like the results.

In a world of normality, there would be few surprises and less excitement.

But in the real world, we're constantly bombarded by change and new experiences. That can make life unpredictable and scary. It's also what makes it exciting and fun! So even if you feel like your days are too predictable or your life is too normal, just wait. Something new is bound to come along and surprise you.

Change is the only constant in life. And the ability to think creatively is what allows us to adapt to change, come up with a creative idea to take advantage of the change, and then make the most of it.

4 Important Creative Thinking Skills

There are four important creative thinking skills everyone should practice and never stop learning ways to improve. They are:

1. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is one of the most important skills for creative thinking. Innovators need to be able to think critically in order to come up with innovative solutions to problems. They need to be able to question everything and come up with alternative solutions.

They also need to think logically, see both sides of an issue, and consider all the options before deciding.

2. Idea Generation

Idea generation (ideation) is all about finding that new idea that becomes an innovative solution to a problem. To generate new ideas, innovators need to be open to change and willing to experiment. They also need to think outside the box and see things from different perspectives.

3. Idea Evaluation

Idea evaluation is assessing the value of an idea. Creative thinkers need to evaluate their ideas in order to determine whether they're worth pursuing. They need to ask themselves several questions, such as:

  • Is this a good idea?
  • Will this idea work?
  • Is this idea feasible?
  • Is this idea worth pursuing?

4. Implementation

Creative thinking only has an impact when a new solution is put into action. This means putting your ideas into action and making them a reality. It can be difficult to turn your ideas into a reality, but it's a must-do step.

There are a number of things you can do to help you implement your ideas to create new solutions. First, you need to have a rational plan. This will help you stay focused and on track. You also need to be organized and efficient. Make sure you know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help. There are plenty of people out there who will help you make your ideas a reality.

Can Everyone Learn Creative Thinking?

Some people are naturally more creative than others, but that doesn't mean that everyone can't learn to think creatively. There are several things you can do to help you improve your creative thinking skills.

First, Don't be afraid to try something new or explore different ways of doing things. Be willing to experiment and take risks.

Second, observe the world around you and look for patterns and connections that you might not have noticed before.

Third, be persistent, and creative thinking takes practice. Don't give up if you don't see results immediately. Keep working at it and eventually, you will see your creative thinking improve.

So, if you're looking to improve your creative thinking, there's no reason why you can't. It takes time and practice.

Sources For Creative Ideas

Things that we see and experience in our everyday lives inspire creativity. Our experiences provide us with new ideas and perspectives that we wouldn't have otherwise. Our own imagination inspires us. We come up with new and innovative ideas by exploring different possibilities. Other people also inspired us. We learn from others and get new ideas from them.

So, where do creative ideas come from? They come from a variety of sources. It just depends on the person and their ability to get their creative juices flowing.

Don't Wait For Your Creative Muse

Creativity is a process that often involves a lot of hard work and dedication. It's not something that comes easy to everyone, but it can be learned. And, once you learn how to be creative, you can use those skills to come up with innovative ideas.

So, what do we mean by your “creative muse”? We mean the ability to come up with new and original ideas. It's a process that requires a lot of hard work, but it can be learned. And, once you learn how to build your creative thinking skills, you can use those skills to come up with innovative ideas.

Some give too much credit to their creative muse. Creativity doesn't just come from some magical place. It comes from a combination of things, including our experiences, our imagination, and our ability to see differently. If you want to be more creative, keep working at it, and eventually, you will see your creative thinking improve.

Your creative results come from having a creative thinking process and creative thinking techniques and not some mysterious muse.

Practice Your Creative Thinking Skills

Creative thinking skills are something that everyone can learn and practice. How?

1. Set aside time.

Start by setting aside time each day to focus on exercising your creative thinking skills. This can be something as simple as doodling or brainstorming ideas for a new project. The important thing is to dedicate some time each day to thinking creatively.

2. Be Open Minded.

Be open to new ideas and perspectives. When you encounter something that seems different from your own worldview, take the time to explore it further. Try to understand where the other person is coming from and what they believe. This will help you become more open-minded and flexible in your own thinking.

3. Practice.

Practice “thinking outside the box.” One way to do this is to take a familiar object or situation and brainstorm alternate ways it could be used. For example, if you are given a pen, try to think of as many ways to use it other than writing.

4. Journal Your Creative Thinking.

Keep a journal where you can document your creative ideas. This will not only help you track your progress, but you can refer to it for inspiration when you’re feeling stuck.

5. Find Creative Opportunities

Seek opportunities to collaborate with others. Brainstorming with a partner can push you to think in new and innovative ways. Being around other creative people will help you develop your own creativity.

6. Be persistent

Creative thinking requires a certain amount of risk-taking. You may have to try a few new things before you find something that works for you. Don’t give up if your first few attempts are unsuccessful. Remember,

Creativity Skills Leaders Look For

In a recent study, the number one skill leaders are searching for is employees that can think on their feet and come up with solutions when things don't go as planned. Individuals with these creative thinking skills are valuable assets to any organization.

The impact of creative thinking skills that leaders look for include:

The ability to come up with new and innovative ideas

Most people think that only highly intelligent people are capable of coming up with new and innovative ideas. However, research has shown that this is not the case. Intelligence and creativity are not related. This means that anyone, even if they are no smarter than the average person, has the potential to be creative.

The ability to think differently

Creative thinking is the ability to think differently. Creatives are not limited by what they have been taught or told. They can come up with new and innovative ideas that others cannot because they have a different way of thinking about things.

The ability to see possibilities where others do not

They see possibilities where others do not, meaning they can take a fresh look in order to solve a problem. Creatives see possibilities in things that others might overlook. They bring a fresh perspective on the creative task. This means they are always looking for new ways to create creative solutions and are not afraid to try something new.

The ability to see things from different perspectives

Creative people see things differently than the norm and they have different ways of using their creative skills to solve problems, which can lead to new ideas or solutions. Creatives use their imagination and come up with original ideas. They look at the world differently and see things that other people don’t see.

The ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently

Creative thinkers are able to solve problems quickly and efficiently because of their open minds and they're not afraid to try. By not being limited to one way of thinking, they have more options and can find the best solution for the problem at hand. With their experience with running experiments and the failures that have happened, they don't let fear cause them to “go slow”.

The ability to think abstractly

Creatives are also able to think abstractly. They can see the connections between things that are not obviously related (lateral thinking). This allows them to come up with new and innovative ideas.

The ability to be persistent

Creatives are persistent because they believe in their ideas and they are not afraid of failure. They know it is through failure that we learn and grow. Persistence is important because it allows them to keep going, even when things are tough.

The ability to adapt and be flexible

They know that change is a part of life and that it is through change that we learn and grow. Innovators can adapt to new situations quickly and easily and come up with new solutions.

Being flexible means being able to change your plans or your way of thinking when necessary. This is something that innovators are good at because they know nothing is set in stone and that things can always be changed.

The ability to work well under pressure

When a deadline is looming or there is a lot of stress in the air, creatives are able to remain calm and focused. They are able to see the situation for what it is and come up with a plan to solve the problem. This is because they are not afraid of failure and know that it is through failure that we learn and grow.

The ability to think independently

If you want to be creatively successful, it's important that you develop and hone these skills. By doing so, you'll be able to set yourself apart from the competition and make a name for yourself in your industry.

Thinking Styles That Improve Creative Thinking Abilities

There is a belief that innovators need to learn how to leverage; lateral thinking, divergent thinking, and convergent thinking.

Lateral thinking

Lateral thinking allows you to see how things that appear to be unrelated are actually related. This allows you to come up with new and innovative ideas. Lateral thinking is important for innovators because it allows them to see and think differently and come up with new solutions to problems.

Divergent thinking

You can see many diverse answers to a problem by using divergent thinking. This is important for innovators because it allows them to find new and innovative solutions by looking broadly.

Convergent thinking

It is a type of thinking that allows you to see the one correct solution to a problem. Most will apply convergent thinking after using lateral and divergent thinking in order to evaluate and reduce the multiple solutions to one.

From Normality To Innovation

Organizations must compete and win in the emerging innovation economy. A leader's ability to recruit and cultivate creative thinking skills is more important than ever. By definition, creative thinking is a way of looking at things differently in order to come up with new and innovative ideas.

Organizations are now trying to nurture and grow their employees' creative thinking skills. This is because they know it is through innovation that they will create a competitive advantage.

There is still time, but not as much as you think. While most organizations try to do things the way they've always been done, early movers in the innovation economy are creating a creative advantage.

Traditional organizations rely on processes that have been proven to work in the past, and they stick to those processes even when times change. But the world is constantly changing and evolving. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow.

This is where innovative organizations have the upper hand. They apply their teams' creative thinking skills to consistently come up with new ideas. They're not afraid to question the status quo and try new things. And because of this, they are able to adapt quickly to change and stay ahead of their competition.

If you want your organization to be successful in the innovation economy, start encouraging creative thinking skills in your employees. You can do this by providing them with training and resources.

If you're looking for more help in developing your employees' creative thinking skills, consider working with an innovation agency like Techtrend.

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Phil McKinney is an innovator, podcaster, author, and speaker. He is the retired CTO of HP. Phil's book, Beyond The Obvious, shares his expertise and lessons learned on innovation and creativity.

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