5 Ways to Build Creativity and Boost Your Business
What is creativity? While there’s no easy definition, I like the one from researcher Sarnoff Mednick who defined it as an associative memorythat works very well.
Mednick’s Remote Associates Test attempted to quantifycreativity as the ability to see the commonalities of three word sequences like “fish-mine-rush.” (The common element there is “gold.”)
While not universally accepted, I think there’s something to the idea that exposure to new ideas, people and cultures is the cornerstone of creative thinking. Greater exposure builds your associative memory and ultimately will make you more creative in business, from securing new clients to entering new marketplaces and attracting new talent.
But getting that exposure takes effort and a certain amount of mental toughness. Here are a few ways to do it:
It’s easy to get into a rut of only reading about your industry. That’s because these days, there is endless content out there. You can do a deep dive on just about any topic related to your field.
But, even if you love your field, you can benefit greatly by reading about what else is going on in the world.
That doesn’t mean you have to keep refreshing USA Today or The New York Times all day. Consider other sources of potential inspiration, such as architectural or fashion publications like W, Architectural Digest and Vogue or pop culture outlets such as People and Vanity Fair. Of course, any periodical should offer new information. I
If you expand your reading sources, though, you’re less likely to be drawn into familiar topics and more likely to hear something genuinely new.
Everyone is working more hours now and our smartphones act as digital leashes that keep us tethered to our work.
Even so, we all benefit by carving out time to cultivate an identity that’s separate from our professional life. Follow your interests. If you like to run, join a running group; or, take a yoga class. Interactions such as these promote the formation of “weak ties,” also known as acquaintances.
These types of relationships have been found to be extremely important conduits for passing information. In fact, you’re more likely to hear something new from an acquaintance as you are from a close friend.
