Give Creativity a Boost

Some people are always coming up with new things to do and new ways to do them. Their inquisitiveness is refreshing and their ability to see things in a different light can be astounding. Do they have a natural tendency to be creative? Perhaps so. Do they cultivate that creativity by seeking innovation? Probably so. Just as I am fairly sure that people who are naturally creative are quite receptive to expanding their knowledge base, so all of us can expand our creative efforts by seeking creative resources.

I don't view myself as a creative person, but I am quite innovative because I seek resources that can help. I'm fascinated by new ideas implemented by others. What they did and how they did it. The nature of the results. And my fascination is not limited by industry or area of interest. If it's something new I want to know about it. Whether I myself can use the idea doesn't matter. I add the new idea to my knowledge base. Perhaps I'll meet someone who could use the idea. Or maybe something will pop-up and I can use it. Who knows?

In addition to always being open to hearing about new ideas, I also cultivate more formal resources such as trade associations; books, articles and other published materials; and on-line resources such as websites and blogs. You should too. If you want to enhance your creative efforts, you need to identify resources that can give you helpful information regarding emerging trends on three fronts. (1) Trends regarding products and services offered by your industry; products and services being developed for your industry; and products and services in other industries that can be adapted to yours. (2) Trends regarding best practices in your area of work, skill, expertise, vocation, discipline, craft, trade or profession. (3) Trends emerging in world of science and technology that can be adopted and/or adapted to your needs now or possibly in the future.

Be inquisitive. Develop information resources, especially regarding new ideas and emerging trends. Expanding your knowledge base may stimulate your own creative ideas and innovations. Look at it this way. You may not be the inventor, but you'll get almost as much credit for finding, adopting, adapting and/or implementing a useful idea as you would get if you had invented it yourself.

About me: Dan Pelley illustrates advances in science and technology and their implication for managers as part of his "Proactive Leadership" program, one of five programs leading to a Certificate in Supervisory Management. 137 companies in Connecticut (CT), Rhode Island (RI), Connecticut (CT). Massachusetts (MA) and New York (NY) have one or more people who earned this certificate.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
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