B-Cognizance
IIITA e-Magazine
October - December 2006 Vol 2 Issue 11
Could creativity and spontaneity results from a highly organized approach? Definitely. Wild and funny thoughts don't come from nowhere. Comedians have habits of mind, and even the most spontaneous ones get better with practice, because they're training their brains to find the humor in situations.
Anyone can do this too. Creativity in all areas can be improved by cultivating the right habits in mind. One can start training your brain today, with some simple techniques like solving aptitude questions, trying to write poetry, sketching etc.
There is a secret - actually a process - which allows one to access the diminished creative spark and start a flow of good ideas from which the great, innovative, break-through ones might be found. To put it simply, you need to 'prime the pump' by being aware of what is happening.
Our minds are like that, deeper than we would expect. Often the best ideas are located way down in our subconscious, waiting to be pumped to the surface. Using your mental muscles is like priming the pump, and that is what starts the water or ideas flowing. Being curious about what is happening around you, reading outside your field, asking questions, 'mining' or digging into ideas that interest you – all prime the pump and feed the reservoir from which the break-through, innovative ideas you seek come from.
Creativity seems easy to some, and it can be if you are systematic at working your brain. Feed your brain the ideas, the challenges, the opportunities, and lots of facts, background, and other information and see what bubbles to the surface.
But how do you apply this at work? Take a note from some of the other creative people who share in the global market. Perhaps they can teach you something that would be of benefit?
Wal-Mart's success is not product specific. Sam Walton looked to others for ideas and was able to apply innovation in his various processes for doing business. Innovation in supplier relationships, distribution, location and pricing. This allowed him to maintain a competitive advantage in supplying his customers what they wanted, at a price they could afford.
General Motors was the first automobile manufacturer to introduce color to the product mix, which has had some long lasting benefit for that industry and for us as consumers. But did you know they also invented consumer credit, which allowed people who'd never owned a car to be able to purchase one. (Gee, only 193 more payments and it's mine.)
3M, famous for inventing the post it note (and their champion had to fight to get them introduced as there was no demand at the time, or so the 'experts' said) has a 30/4 rule in place to encourage its employees to explore new ideas and processes. Simply said, 30% of their sales need to come from products that are less than 4 years old. Keeps them fresh, and keeps them priming the creativity pumps.
Three challenges emerge to priming your creativity pump:
• Think things out fresh…be unconventional
• Destroy the old, and then create new.
Tap your imagination. Consider new ideas, ask new questions, and raise new possibilities
Creativity can strike when you least expect it. Keep priming the creativity pump and keep your eyes open. You might just surprise yourself and be revealed as a creative thinker!
by Chanchal Kukreja, MBA IIITA.
X'Pressions
CREATIVITY
Could creativity and spontaneity results from a highly organized approach? Definitely. Wild and funny thoughts don't come from nowhere. Comedians have habits of mind, and even the most spontaneous ones get better with practice, because they're training their brains to find the humor in situations.
Anyone can do this too. Creativity in all areas can be improved by cultivating the right habits in mind. One can start training your brain today, with some simple techniques like solving aptitude questions, trying to write poetry, sketching etc.
There is a secret - actually a process - which allows one to access the diminished creative spark and start a flow of good ideas from which the great, innovative, break-through ones might be found. To put it simply, you need to 'prime the pump' by being aware of what is happening.
Our minds are like that, deeper than we would expect. Often the best ideas are located way down in our subconscious, waiting to be pumped to the surface. Using your mental muscles is like priming the pump, and that is what starts the water or ideas flowing. Being curious about what is happening around you, reading outside your field, asking questions, 'mining' or digging into ideas that interest you – all prime the pump and feed the reservoir from which the break-through, innovative ideas you seek come from.
Creativity seems easy to some, and it can be if you are systematic at working your brain. Feed your brain the ideas, the challenges, the opportunities, and lots of facts, background, and other information and see what bubbles to the surface.
But how do you apply this at work? Take a note from some of the other creative people who share in the global market. Perhaps they can teach you something that would be of benefit?
Wal-Mart's success is not product specific. Sam Walton looked to others for ideas and was able to apply innovation in his various processes for doing business. Innovation in supplier relationships, distribution, location and pricing. This allowed him to maintain a competitive advantage in supplying his customers what they wanted, at a price they could afford.
General Motors was the first automobile manufacturer to introduce color to the product mix, which has had some long lasting benefit for that industry and for us as consumers. But did you know they also invented consumer credit, which allowed people who'd never owned a car to be able to purchase one. (Gee, only 193 more payments and it's mine.)
3M, famous for inventing the post it note (and their champion had to fight to get them introduced as there was no demand at the time, or so the 'experts' said) has a 30/4 rule in place to encourage its employees to explore new ideas and processes. Simply said, 30% of their sales need to come from products that are less than 4 years old. Keeps them fresh, and keeps them priming the creativity pumps.
Three challenges emerge to priming your creativity pump:
• Think things out fresh…be unconventional
• Destroy the old, and then create new.
Tap your imagination. Consider new ideas, ask new questions, and raise new possibilities
Creativity can strike when you least expect it. Keep priming the creativity pump and keep your eyes open. You might just surprise yourself and be revealed as a creative thinker!
by Chanchal Kukreja, MBA IIITA.