Introduction: The Beginner’s Playbook to Creativity Skills
Creativity is among the 10 key skills you need to thrive at work. You need creativity skills in so many situations, such as when you are problem solving, making decisions, and negotiating, to name a few. The curated post, “The Beginner’s Playbook to Creativity Skills,” is the fourth in the series to help you learn the key skills needed for future jobs. This curated post on creativity skills was difficult to pull together, and that may very well be because it is unclear what it means to be creative.
I used the same process to gather articles for this post that I used for the other three posts, but when I read them through, I wasn't satisfied. I felt that I was failing you. So, I had to start to intentionally find articles to add to the collection. It's good that I read Curate This
, because it helped me to be more diligent in gathering the articles.
I tried to select content from across various media, and I am using many of the other tips that I found in the book to bring you the best information that I can find right now. Some people will prefer to read an article, while others will opt to watch a video, or a SlideShare presentation. What I would like you to do, is to read each piece of content in this post.
When reading, viewing, and listening to each piece of content in this curated post on creativity skills, answer the following questions to get a firm grasp of creativity skills.
How to Analyze Each Piece of Content in the Curated Posts on the 10 Key Skills
- What is the main purpose of this article? Why did the author write it?
- What is the key question that the author is addressing is?
- What is the most important information in this article? This includes facts, experiences, and/or data the author is using to support her/his conclusions.
- What are the main inferences/conclusions in this article?
- What are the key idea(s) you need to understand in this article?
- What are the main assumption(s) underlying the author’s thinking?
- If you take what the author is saying seriously, what are the implications? If you do not take what the author is saying seriously, what are the implications?
- What are the main point(s) of view presented in this article?
What are Creativity Skills?
What are creativity skills? The article outlines the four creativity skills:
- Curiosity
- Open-mindedness
- Imagination
- Problem solving skills
As mentioned previously, some of the 10 skills are related, creativity skills are related to problem solving skills. The article references an infographic that you can easily download. I would have preferred if the infographic was included in the article and not something that you have to click on to see.
What is Creativity? Perspectives from Creativity at Work
This article makes a distinction between creativity and innovation. The definition of creativity:
“Creativity is characterised by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions. Creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing.”
To strengthen the article, the writer, Linda Naiman, founder of Creativity at Work, includes research. She touches on areas such as creativity and economic development, the creativity gap, overcoming myths about creativity, fostering creativity at work, and much more. Books mentioned in the article include:
Creative Thinking Skills | SkillsYouNeed: You'll learn some useful creative thinking techniques and skills to enable you to think more creatively, innovate and adapt to change more easily. The article includes information on brainstorming, engaging your right brain, and drawing. When you learn to think creatively, you are on the road to developing creativity skills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SVUo2dGcUk
Creativity Quiz – Creativity Tools From MindTools.com: I love this website because it has information on many of the 10 key skills need for future job. The article provides an assessment tool that you can use to test your creativity. It shows you how to boost your creativity skills by using a 5-step process. This process should be familiar to you.
- Preparation
- Incubation
- Insight
- Evaluation
- Elaboration
The article expands on each of the five steps in the creativity process.
Ways to Improve Your Creativity Skills
Surprise: Creativity is a Skill not a Gift! | Psychology Today: The title of this article is creativity is skill not a gift. This means that you can learn it. In today's highly competitive business climate, creativity can no longer be limited to artists and inventors. You have read many times over that many jobs are lost because of robots and other forms of automation. If you want to protect your job, you have to do original work, and that's where creativity skills come into play. Be that person who sees what others don't.
This article does not lay out how to develop creativity skills per se, but it is still worth the read. The following quote from the article struck me:
“You’re probably wondering how you can think more creatively? One way is to observe innovators and emulate their characteristics. All creative thinkers have three primary traits. Of those, first and foremost, is the belief they are creative. Ninety percent of being creative is thinking you are, and with that comes the confidence that you'll come up with the right answer when the need arises.”
How to be More Creative: In this article in Real Simple, they outline the seven habits of highly creative people. Additionally, you will find things you can do to unleash your creativity. What I liked about this article though, is that the writer, A J Jacobs, included the names of books, some of which are new to me.
Real Simple 3 Ways to Train Yourself to be More Creative: If you practice any skill, you can become better at it, and that is the case with creativity skills. In this Fast Company article, Art Markman describes three ways that you can train yourself to become more creative. Take the time to explain things to yourself, and to others. Open yourself to new ideas and new ways of doing things. And finally, remain curious – ask a lot of questions.
“This way of thinking about talents and skills is particularly important when it comes to thinking about creativity. For skills that involve actions in the world, such as shooting a free throw or playing a musical instrument, people have a pretty good idea of what they need to do to improve. But for mental skills like creativity, few people know enough about the way their minds work to be able to treat it like a skill.”
Fast Company Teaching Creativity Skills – Creative Thinking in Education and Life: This is a webpage dedicated to creative thinking skills for education and life. I include it because it answers many creativity skills questions. After digesting the information on the page, you will have a good foundation on creativity skills. It defines creativity skills, you'll find principles and strategies for increasing creativity, and how to liberate your creativity. It also combines creativity with critical thinking.
Creativity as a Life Skill: Gerard Puccio at TEDxGramercy
People tend to do what others do – conformity bias. Conformity allows for collaboration, aids in learning, and creates culture. Conformity prevents you from doing things differently. For evolution, conformity is not enough, you also need creativity. You don't have to wait for creativity to strike, you can practice deliberate creativity.
Creativity Requires a Mix of Skills: Research Says that Creativity Requires a Mix of Skills. Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, and Thomas Edison were not your average students, some would considem them slow learners, yet they excelled professionally. This is proof that creativity is a learnable and teachable skill. The article defines creativity and talks about how not to suppress creativity in school.
Creativity Workshop by Carol Derks
This presentation is a short creativity workshop by Carol Derks. You'll learn about the creative process, what blocks creativity, skills for creative thinking, as well as creativity techniques.
Creativity Skills
In this presentation, the writer talks about the tools he used to help enhance his creativity skills.
These Twelve Books Can Help Build Executive Skills And Creativity – Forbes: This Forbes article is by Jenn Choi. Some of the books sound very intriguing, and could be worth the read.
“When children create things during playtime, they are also sharpening a very important skill: executive function. This is an umbrella skill used for getting things done, from having an idea to planning out steps for it, initiating the work, and tweaking whatever needs tweaking, all while maintaining focus, regulating one’s emotions and maintaining your motivation as you do your work.”
10 ways to enhance creativity at work – The Guardian: This Guardian article is a short and easy to digest article on creativity. Some companies implement activities, tools and resources to enhance employee creativity. Some have invested in chill-out zones, with ping-pong and pool tables, as well as quiet areas that are conducive to creative thinking. Others encourage their staff to learn new skills or get involved in new leisure activities.
How to Be Creative When You're Not Naturally Creative: This HubSpot article does a very good job of providing ways to jumpstart your creativity. The first activity is the morning freewrite, which is similar to morning pages in Julia Cameron's, The Artist Way
. Other ideas include to take a creative course, brainstorm, travel to other places, and to embrace your inner child. The ideas are not new, but there are times when we need reminders about what we already know and may have forgotten.
blog.hubspot.com Final Thoughts on Creativity Skills
I am not 100 percent satisfied with the articles in this curated post on creativity skills. Many of them seem to dance around the topic. Although, after you have read the articles and viewed the videos and presentation, you will have a good understanding of creativity skills. I think the problem has to do with what creativity is. It means different things to different people.
Additionally, I have created a handy guide to walk you through the process of learning the 10 key employability skills, as well as other skills I think you'll need to succeed at work in the future. This will give you what you need to thrive in 2020.
You can buy your copy of Checklist to Learn Key Skills and Develop Cultural Intelligence; and Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Creativity & Decision-Making Action Guide will teach you four skills, which includes creativity.
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for LifeThe War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment's Notice
The Act of Creation
