Creativity is like a superpower that allows people to come up with new and exciting ideas, find clever solutions to problems and express themselves in unique ways. It’s not just about being artistic, it’s about thinking differently and being open to new possibilities.
Creativity helps in science, technology, business and many other fields, pushing us to discover new things and make the world a better place. It’s like a special skill that encourages us to explore, to question what we know and to add our own special touch to the way we do things, making the world more interesting and full of cool innovations.
According to research papers , J. P. Guilford’s model of divergent thinking from the 1950s offers four dimensions to describe creativity:
- Fluency
- Felxibility
- Originallity
- Elaboration
Fluency: Flow like a River
Fluency is starting point in any type of problem solving or creative work. It is like the creative superpower of generating many of ideas, and fast.
It’s not about judging their quality, but rather tapping into a limitless flow of possibilities. This ability shines in brainstorming sessions or idea generation tasks, where people effortlessly generate options. Everybody should accept proposals without doubting, as it can disturb fluency.
Why is this quantity-focused skill so important?
The more shots you have, the bigger is chance of finding extraordinary. High fluency suggests a rich storehouse of ideas and a willingness to explore all possibilities before focusing on the best.
Studies show that fluency also plays a key role in divergent thinking, a crucial aspect assessed in many creativity tests. It frees you from rigid patterns and pushes you to consider unconventional solutions. Imagine building a robot: a fluent thinker might suggest using recycled materials, making it dance, or even giving it superpowers!
Flexibility: be like a Gymnast
Imagine an athlete who can jump, bend, twist and turn! He even defies gravity. Flexibility is similar. It allows us to look at problems from more angles and perspectives.
It’s about thinking outside the box or going the extra mile. With this ability we can come up with great ideas.
Can people fly?
For centuries, humans believed that is not possible. But, the Wright brothers, pioneers of the airplane, showed it is possible. This is an excellent example of flexible thinking in several ways:
- Challenging status quo – Humans are not birds and can’t fly.
- Using actual examples: Raw inspiration came from bird’s wings, kite and similar toys.
- Thinking outside the box: Combining knowledge from different areas to develop mechanism for wing design, control and lifting
This journey shows how revolutionary and unimaginable innovation can be made through flexible thinking.
Originality: Standing Out From the Crowd
According to Cambridge dictionary, originality is the quality of being special and interesting and not like anything or anyone else. The next question would be whether originality should be explained in a definition and whether this would affect its nature.
Some people might say that everything has already been invented, right? Wrong! True originality isn’t about pulling a rabbit out of a hat. It’s about taking a fresh look at existing ideas, approaching actual challenges with a fresh eyes and putting your own unique mark on things. Of course, true originality is like finding a needle in a haystack, but it’s also what makes something really stand out and challenges the status quo. It’s what makes it matter.
How can you avoid forgetting to complete tasks?
In today’s modern era, there are various methods such as setting up Outlook reminders or phone alarms. However, as an old-school person, I prefer using sticky notes. They fit perfectly on my PC screen and help me to meet my deadlines.
In 1968, Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M in the United States, was trying to develop a super-strong adhesive. However, during his experiments, he accidentally discovered a ‘low-tack’ pressure-sensitive adhesive that was perfect for temporary use.
Six years later, Art Fry, a 3M employee, attended one of Silver’s seminars and had an idea to use this unique adhesive to anchor his bookmark in his hymn book. Fry recognized its potential and decided to explore it further. This original idea is now famous and widely used today.
Elaboration: Fill the Gap
Elaboration is last step in creativity process. It is the process of adding details, depth, and richness to an idea. This process takes an initial concept or inspiration and fleshes it out, making it more real, understandable, and aesthetically pleasing.
To simplify it, imagine that an idea is like a seed that needs care to grow. It requires nutrients, water, and sunlight to become a beautiful flower.
Here are a few key points about elaboration:
- Adding Details: Elaboration involves filling in the gaps, answering questions like “how,” “why,” and “what if.”
- Completing the Picture: It’s like connecting the dots, ensuring that all the necessary elements are in place. Don’t forget, small things that make a big difference.
- Enhancing Understanding: Elaboration helps create new meanings and better understandings. By digging deeper, you gain insights and uncover hidden layers. It’s not just about what the idea is but also about how it functions, resonates, and impacts the audience.
The Takeaway
In conclusion, remember that the above components are useless if used separately. To truly shine, it needs to be combined with other skills like fluency (generating many ideas), flexibility (adapting to new ideas), originality (coming up with unique concepts), and elaboration (refining your ideas into something amazing).
Next time a light-bulb moment strikes, try breaking down your creative process into smaller steps. Believe in your ideas from the beginning and follow them through to the ‘Eureka’ moment. If you don’t have faith in your ideas, why should anyone else?
