How to be More Creative
Posted March 3rd, 2017
Creativity has become a valued trait among companies these days. To stay ahead of the competition in a world where change is always accelerating, and knowledge grows exponentially, companies look to people who themselves are change agents, disruptors and innovators.
But creativity has always been seen as something that is rather elusive and uncertain. Many people simply believe that it is a quality you either have or not, unlike most other skills that can be learned. But research is showing that creativity is something that can be acquired through practice and training.
In fact, when it comes to creativity, persistence pays off. That is what several university researchers found when conducting an experiment on persistence and creativity. They found that people often give up too soon when they are working on some project that demands creativity.
The Research
For example, in one experiment, a group of people were given a task to do and were asked to generate as many ideas as possible to complete the task in a certain amount of time. Then, the investigators asked the subjects in the experiment to estimate how many more ideas they could come up with if they were given more time. Finally, the subjects were given additional time to see how many more ideas they could generate.
In one case, a group was asked to come up with as many original ideas as they could for what to eat at Thanksgiving dinner. The group came up with 22 ideas in ten minutes. Members of the group then predicted that they would be able to come up with about 10 more ideas if they were given an additional 15 minutes. In fact, the group generated 15 new ideas. The difference between the two – actual and expected number of ideas – is considered statistically significant.
Moreover, the new ideas they came up with turned out to be more original than the ideas during the first 10 minutes.
The studies revealed the value of persistence when engaged in a creative activity. People underestimate the value of persistence because often the process of being creative is a messy one, filled with dead ends and bumpy roads, so people don’t feel like they are being very creative.
So, when coming up with ideas to solve a problem, be mindful of stopping too soon, and extend the time you devote to the problem.
If you need to add some creativity to your job search, Bayside Solutions can help you. We are a leading technology-related staffing agency. So, if you work in biotechnology, information technology, or a similar field, give Bayside Solutions a call. We are here to help you.
